Dinesh Kamath's column on 'Inside Navi Mumbai' (10) (Why Houses for Journalists?) that was published in Newsband

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Inside Navi Mumbai

By Dinesh Kamath

Why houses for journalists?

I had attended a press conference conducted by City and Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (CIDCO) Chairman Pramod Hindurao. He was addressing the journalists of Navi Mumbai. In this conference, he promised that CIDCO would allot plot for the construction of Journalists Bhavan in Navi Mumbai. Many journalists then raised the question of houses for journalists. Hindurao didn’t make any promise regarding this issue but he assured that he would discuss this matter with the state government.

Just recently, the journalists of Panvel and Uran also lined up for a plot to house their Patrakar Bhavan and also the journalists themselves. A petition demanding the same was submitted to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan during his visit to the city on 24 December, 2012. The initiative in the matter was taken by senior journalist Kantilal Kadu.

With the prices of real estate sky rocketing, ordinary journalists including those associated with the electronic media, will never be able to acquire a house in their lifetime. That is why they should be accommodated like other economically weaker groups. After all, the contribution of journalists in the evolution and development of the city is substantial.

Now the ball is in the court of both the state government and CIDCO. Will the two care to construct houses for Navi Mumbai journalists?

Why should journalists anywhere in the world be allotted houses? That’s because Journalists form a part of the fourth estate. But they are the most neglected group. They do the highest form of service to the area they reside in but they are not adequately paid for that service. Since ages, journalists have been fighting for their rights. They were always of the opinion that they deserved better salary, better living conditions etc. But their appeals have been ignored by the government and they are reduced to the status of economically weaker group.

State governments should ask private developers to reserve at least 30 percent of their dwelling units to economically weak journalists. The state governments should impress upon civic authorities to make changes in the Master Plans and Zonal Plans for reserving space for journalists. After all there are many journalists who belong to low income group (LIG). Hence they should be given the benefits made available to LIG.

It remains to be seen whether state government will implement the policy, forcing private players in the realty sector to leave space for poor journalists. The past experience has not been all that encouraging as several state governments had refused to consider the journalists as among the LIG and they have been deprived of the facilities that were made available to this particular group. Why are journalists excluded when it comes to providing facilities? Journalists are doing to the society more noble contributions than any other low income group. Even the Central Government refuses to release funds for the benefit of journalists. Why?

Private developers focus on high and middle-income housing projects, but journalists are excluded from these projects. Even state-controlled housing agencies and civic authorities have neglected the plight of journalists. More and more housing projects are coming up for the benefit of economically weaker section (EWS) and lower income group (LIG) but the journalists are not considered as belonging to either of these groups.

Yes, journalists are intellectuals. They are doing more mental labour and less physical works. Although they are poor they are considered as superior to other people belonging to low income group. In fact, journalists are considered as superior to even some economically well-to-do section. The journalists enjoy the status of teachers who are intellectuals but economically backward. Both these groups believe in simple living and high thinking. Of course, journalists are better off than teachers in a way that they are able to get more fame than teachers. But otherwise, they are as good as teachers. There should be a scheme which will facilitate easy flow of funds to civic bodies and state governments for construction of houses for the journalists.

India's desire to become the world's next big economic power is as real as the enormous challenges it faces in raising the social and economic well being of journalists. The issue of adequate housing is integral to poverty reduction and social justice in India. The living conditions of most of the Indian journalists are pathetic. The realities of day-to-day life for a great majority of journalists are nothing short of cruel. A living story of economic deprivation has prevailed for centuries. The real story of majority of the journalists is tragic.

Professionals like carpenters, blacksmiths, barbers, weavers, potters, oil-pressers, leatherworkers, sweepers are considered as inferior group. But, believe me, there are journalists who earn less than any of these professionals. Even drivers, construction laborers and packers earn more than some journalists. One can say that the living conditions for most journalists remain far from what can be called "acceptable."

Development of countries is often judged by certain economic and social statistics compiled by national governments and major international agencies such as the World Bank and the United Nations. By these aggregate measures, India has made significant progress in recent years, especially since liberalization measures were introduced in 1991. For example, the GDP growth rate now stands at 9.4% per year, much better than the less than 4% experienced during the 1990s. Life expectancy at birth has now improved to 64 years from 56 years 20 years ago; infant mortality has fallen to 5.6% from 8.1%; primary school attendance has risen to 74% from 65%, and the adult literacy rate is 61% as compared to 50%, all during the same period. But the plight of many journalists is still the same. The government is coming up with ambitious projects in various fields but the fourth estate is simply ignored. Why does government show such step-motherly attitude towards scribes?

There is no arguing that there has been improvement, but they are not sufficient.

Housing is one of the top priorities for most people, regardless of their income levels. Practically everyone lists housing as their most important need - above food, health care and education for their children. Without the security and comfort of a home, there is no escaping the difficulties resulting from poverty. Poor journalists do not have the financial means to buy or construct houses with their savings, and therefore they live in their ancestral huts, those rented from landlords (with ensuing obligations), or government-supplied houses. Adequate housing is considered by many to be a fundamental human right regardless of income level - a basic necessity for all that cannot be denied in a fair and equitable society. It is interrelated with other aspects of life such as health and education.

Hence, both the Central and state governments should seriously consider the idea of providing houses to journalists who reside not only in Navi Mumbai but also all over India.