Report of last 5 years

Association Of Small Newspapers was constituted in the year 1984 and registered on 1986. Later on the demand of the members, we included " Of India" in the name of association. Association was being recognized as a strong voice for raising the problems of small newspapers of the country. Press Council Of India recognized it as representative body in the 1997 and then in the year 2004, the association got representation in PCI. So the association in its last 25 years has continuously raised the problems on a suitable platform through meetings and conference. In the year 2000, there was a proposal to add the medium newspapers also in the association. So in 2007, after continuous efforts, the medium newspapers were also added to the association and it was renamed as " Association of Small & Medium Newspapers Of India". We are hereby giving the information of our activities of the last three years. A National conference of the association was held on 19th, February 2005 at Constitution Club, New Delhi. The Union Minister Of State for Forest & Environment, Mr. Namo Narayan Mina was Chief Guest and Chairman Of Nation Women Commission Ms. Girija Vyas presided and addressed the delegates. They assured us to present our grievances before the government. In the conference, Shri Keshav Dutt Chandola was re-elected the National President of the association. The meeting of the national council of the association was held on 28th April 2005 at U.P.Bhawan, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi. In the meeting, we announced national executive and also elected Presidents for state units. The states united their problems and they were suggested the possible way to get their problems solved. The meeting of the national council of the association was held on 1st July 2005 at U.P.Bhawan, New Delhi. In the meeting, the activities of the states units were reviewed and the states units were directed to be active at the state level. The General Secretary of the association Mr. Ashok Chaturvedi said that Rajasthan Government has issued a medical dairy for the journalists to provide medical facilities. It provides us medicines upto Rs. 1500/- and the government is also providing financial assistance for severe disease, even all the required test will be arrange free of cost. The state government is also giving facility of accidental insurance and the 75 % of the premium will be paid by state government. He said that other state units should make efforts to get such facilities in their state. The conference of the association was held on 28th April 2006 at South Avenue M.P.Club, New Delhi. The members were given information about the proposals of amendment of Press Act by government. A meeting was invited by the Ministry Of I & B and President Mr. K.D.Chandola and Mr. Mahesh Tiwari were participated and given suggestions. The members complained about violation of Press Act and raising of irrelevant objections at the time of proposing title letter or at the time of filling declaration before district magistrate and also at the time of registration by the office of the registrar of newspapers. Members criticized the role of DAVP and their advertising policy. The nationa president assured to and henceforth placed these problems before Minister of I&B. The meeting of the national council of the association was held on 14th July 2006 at U.P.Bhawan, New Delhi. In the meeting, problems raised by davp and rni were discussed. Members placed objections against davp for their annexure-12 and disqualification period of six years in their advertising policy. They even objected on extending the time of publication from one year to three years for fresher. The members once again proposed to add "Medium" to the name of the organization and take legal steps towards it. All related matters were placed before Minister of I & B. The meeting of the national council of the association was held on 15th January 2007 at the Kanpur office. The proposal to add 'Medium' to name of association was passed and placed before Registrar Of Societies. The amendment in the rules and regulations were accepted and decided to placed before Registrar Of Societies. The national conference was concluded successfully on 12th March 2007 at Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi. Even after heavy rainfall, the members enthusiastically participated in the conference. Members reelected Shri K.D.Chandola, as the national president. Mr. Chandola told in his presidential speech that he was received amended certificate of the association in which the word medium has been added. He told that they had requested the I & B Minister to extend the date of filling the media forms from 31st August to 31st Oct.2007 and their request had been accepted. Members requested to solved their problems of davp and rni and proposed way of solution. President assured that the all resolutions will be placed before the minister. The meeting of the national council of the association was held on 15th April 2007 at U.P.Bhawan, New Delhi. In the meeting, the national executives for 2007-08 were declared. The state presidents for respective state were also announced. Resolution passed to open a new bank account. Member asked clear view for small and medium newspapers from government. They expressed their unhappiness to the minister for not listening their difficulties. A resolution was also passed to start a monthly bulletin of the association. President assured that he will try to start publication as early as possible. The meeting of the national council of the association was held on 19th September 2007 at U.P.Bhawan, New Delhi. In the meeting, president given information about the cases filed before the Press Council Of India for Uttaranchal and U.P. He said that clearcut directions were given to both government for the constitution of accreditation committees. The other state units can do the same for justice. State accreditation committees must constitute in every state and state units must watch into constitution process. If their any irregularity, they can go to judicial forum like Press Council. Our All India conference was concluded successfully on 12th February 2008 at Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi. Mr.Shriprakash Jaiswal, Union State Minister for Home Affairs was chief guest. Mr.Jaiswal assured that he will propos our resolutions to the I & B ministry help them. He said small and medium newspapers are the need of today and will be needful in future also. He said government must help them. An exhibition of newspapers was organized. The exhibition of newspapers was inaugurated By Mr. Tariq Anwar,M.P. He told in his speech that he is journalist and publishing a newspaper, so he knew the problems of the delegates. Technical Director of PIB Mr. Subodh Shukla, Ex.Information Director of Rajasthan Dr. Manohar Prabhakar and Mr. Subhash Sood were given relevant information to the delegates. PIB was requested to solve downloading problem of material for newspaper and they assured to do needful as early as possible. The delegates were in high spirit after the conference success. The meeting of the national council of the association was held on 3rd May 2008 at U.P.Bhawan, New Delhi. Member asked clear view for small and medium newspapers from government. They expressed their unhappiness to the minister for not listening their difficulties. Working of the davp and rni was discussed. The state units have been asked to send a letter to the I & B Minister, Govt. of India for davp and rni The states units have been asked for their problems and they were suggested the possible way to get their problems solved. The General Secretary of the Association, Mr. Ashok Chaturvedi, convened the meeting and highlighted many problems of the small & medium newspapers. A seminar on 'Role and Responsibility of Small & Medium Newspapers in Contemporary Reference' organized by the Association of Small and Medium Newspapers of India at Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi on September 10. Justice G.N. Ray, Chairman, Press Council of India. said in his inaugural address that Small and medium newspapers have no substitute, because being at grass roots level, they are closer to the people. As such, their domain is impenetrable as the big newspapers and TV channels are primarily urban oriented. Therefore, the small newspapers should not bother about competition. Without being over sensitive towards circulation, they should rather compete with them selves only, not with the big papers. Concentrating on content quality, they should try to become the voice of the people in rural and remote areas, where being sons of soil they enjoy better access than the socalled big papers do. He presented the report of council’s sub committee for small and medium newspapers, in which council recommended to not charged 15% commission from advertisements of davp and to give 20% more then davp rate from state governments. Mr.K.D.Chandola, national president of the Association said that quite indifferent about the hardships faced by the small and medium newspapers, the government seemed to be bent upon.