The Assam Congress on Thursday urged the Centre and state government to consider announcing a stimulus package for the media industry, saying the industry is facing problems because of Covid-19 pandemic.

The appeal was made separately by Assam PCC president Ripun Bora and former chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

Bora said unfortunately many national media houses, instead of working together with their employees at this time of crisis, have resorted to pay cuts and sackings and forced many staff members to take leave without pay.

He said there are also reports that local media houses in many parts of India are also likely to take similar steps.

“It is also noteworthy that the Prime Minister himself has urged companies not to sack employees or resort to measures like salary cuts at this time of global pandemic. Many media organisations have been in existence for decades and a temporary loss of advertising revenue or subscribers base for a period of one or two months should not lead to a situation where thousands of their employees lose jobs or face salary cuts,” Bora said. He urged all media houses across India, including Assam, not to resort to staff retrenchment or salary cuts.

“The central government should also consider providing a stimulus package for the media sector, with special emphasis on the print media to help it tide over this crisis. The Assam government should also take steps to help the local and regional media houses of the state. Some sort of subsidy or stimulus to local and regional media houses will come handy to revive the sector at this crucial moment,” he said.

Bora also urged the government to immediately bring under coverage of the health insurance scheme announced recently by the state government for staffs of other frontline and emergency services.

“The journalist community is naturally worried at salary cut and retrenchment by some media houses. We are worried at the development and urged upon the newspapers houses not to take such steps. The Centre and the state government should give financial support to these newspaper houses,” said Gogoi.