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After three journalists succumbed to Covid-19 amidst the second, more virulent surge of the disease, the Bombay Union of Journalists (BUJ) has demanded that proper provisions be made to protect journalists and photographers who continue to be on the field amidst the pandemic.
The Hindu’s chief photographer and President of the News Photographers Association Vivek Bendre and Sadanand Shinde of Navakal passed away on April 25, while independent journalist Sopanrao Bongane passed away on April 22.
In a statement released, BUJ said, “Brihanmumbai Union of Journalists (BUJ) expresses its shock at the death of three journalists from Mumbai in the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The BUJ expresses its condolences to their families and affirms its commitment to fight for the safety and security of all journalists.” It added, “BUJ is deeply distressed at the number of instances of journalists who have lost their lives across India while covering the pandemic with scarcely any resources, safety equipment or support from their employers.”
BUJ hit the nail on the head when it raised concerns about job security amidst the pandemic and how the fear of losing one’s livelihood was pushing many journalists to risk their lives. BUJ said, “Already, working journalists across the city have been forced into precarity due to the massive job losses and wage cuts effected by media companies since the start of the lockdown last April.” Many media houses had resorted to coercive tactics, which the BUJ brought into sharp focus saying, “Throughout the nation-wide lockdown last year, journalists have continued to work despite the lack of any kind of safety equipment. Journalists were intimidated and warned that if they elected to work from home, despite more than fifty per cent reduction in their wages, they were in danger of losing their jobs. They were forced to continue to travel to work using their own means of transport.”
In April 2020, BUJ along with the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ), moved the Supreme Court pleading for the suspension with immediate effect all terminations, resignations, wage deductions and directions to go on leave without pay that have taken place in the media after the announcement of the nation-wide lockdown. This case is still pending before the apex court. BUJ says, “Apart from ensuring job security, another major demand of the writ petition was safety of journalists and the provision of safety equipment. Unfortunately, this was not given any attention and more than a hundred journalists across India have lost their lives due to Covid-19.”
The entire BUJ statement may be read here:
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