The Indian Journalist Association's eighth International Journalist Awards Ceremony concluded in Ranchi.

Journalists haven't changed, but circumstances have.

Journalists' Protection Act should be implemented in other states, including Bihar and Jharkhand - Deepak Prakash.

Newspapers should be excluded from the GST slab. - Seraj Ahmad Quraishi

Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Former Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Honorable Subodh Kant Sahay, and Rajya Sabha MP Deepak Prakash attended the eighth International Journalist Conference and Journalist Awards Ceremony, held at the Palash Auditorium under the auspices of the Indian Journalist Association.

Addressing the press conference, Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay stated that implementing the Journalist Protection Act in Jharkhand, Bihar, and other states is the need of the hour in the interest of journalists. He emphasized the need for journalists' unity to protect their rights. He added that the Central Government used to provide journalists with a 50% rail travel concession, which the government has since repealed. Journalists need to unite and pressure the Railway Ministry to grant them fare concessions. Rajya Sabha MP Deepak Prakash stated that journalists are fighting for their rights, but due to a lack of coordination and solidarity, their interests are being protected. He urged all organizations to form a platform to express their views. Mr. Prakash stated that the profession of journalism faces serious challenges. Journalists gather news even under difficult circumstances, sometimes even risking their lives. In such circumstances, it is the responsibility of state governments to enact the Journalist Protection Act. Several states in the country have implemented the Journalist Protection Act. Similarly, the Journalist Protection Act should be implemented in other states, including Bihar and Jharkhand.

On this occasion, National President of Indian Journalist Association Jr. Seraj Ahmad Quraishi, stated that the process for uploading regular newspapers by the Indian Journalist Association (RINA) should be simplified. DAVP should allow display advertising for black and white newspapers, as there is no policy that stipulates that black and white newspapers cannot receive advertisements. The process for transferring newspapers by the Indian Journalist Association (RINA) should be simplified. PCI newspapers with a circulation of less than 25,000 should not require a NOC when filing a fresh filing with DAVP. Newspapers should be excluded from the GST slab.

The association Jharkhand State President, Devanand Sinha, and National Secretary, Women's Wing, Madhu Sinha, emphasized journalist unity.

In the conference, Mr. Sahay and Deepak Prakash welcomed journalists from various parts of the country and abroad, including Isteyak Ahmad, Badruddin Khan Azad, Lalita Das Vidrohi from Nepal, National Vice President Satendra Kumar Mishra from Jharsuguda, Orissa, National Treasurer Salman Ahmed from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, National Secretary Javed Masood Qadri from Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, State President Mohammad Ashfaq Arif from Jabalpur, District President Hasan Rashid from Katni, District President Sant Sharan Dwivedi from Rewa, District President Shakeel Khan and Mukesh Mishra from Burhanpur, Marathwada State President Mohammad Tabish from Aurangabad, State Organization Secretary Syed Anwar Qadri, District Secretary Rauf Khan, District President Jalna Amer Khan, District Senior Vice President Sheikh Mujibuddin, District Vice President Sunil Bharti, Barpeta Assam Sheikh Rahmatullah, State Secretary R.K. from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. M. Sharma, State General Secretary Mohammad Zaheer from Kolkata, West Bengal, District General Secretary Rajiv Kushwah from Sundargarh, Orissa, Karunakar Ram Tripathi from Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, State Vice President Mithilesh Kumar and Manish Kamaliya from Nawada, Bihar, Mohammad Sultan Akhtar, Gopal Sahni and Subodh Singh from Chapra, Farogh Ur Rahman from Begusarai, Senior Journalist Gul Faraz, State Incharge Jharkhand, Pramod Paswan, Shirazi Rahman and Manoj Srivastava from Dhanbad, Deoghar District President Munna Kapri, State General Secretary Bhagwan Tiwari, District President Ramgarh Sujit Sinha, State Secretary Atif Khan, Kolhan President Salman Khan, Mohammad Kaleem Khan, Abhishek Kumar, Inayat Tabrez, Saddam Hussain Jamtara District President, District President Ranchi Vipin Kumar Singh, Kajal Mehta, Senior Journalist Praveen Raman, Sanjeet Kumar Deepak, Prabhat Kumar Singh and hundreds of journalists were honored.

While Dr. Abhishek K. Ramadhin was honored in the medical field and Shankar Dubey in the social field.

Finally, program coordinator Devanand Sinha expressed his gratitude to the guests who came from India and abroad.