the goan I network
PANAJI
The Goa Union of Journalists, the sole professional body for journalists in the State, has set up three crucial committees to regulate ethical conduct and adjudicate questions of credentials of member journalists working in the State - Credentials Committee, GUJ Disciplinary Action Committee and GUJ Committee Against Sexual Harassment at Work Place.
Each of these will assist the Executive Committee to regulate the GUJ constitutional rules, safeguard the rights of members and set forth a safe and healthy workplace environment.
GUJ president Rajtilak Naik and General Secretary Vasudev Pagi will be ex-officio members of all the three panels.
The Credentials committee will have GUJ vice-president Glenn Costa, treasurer Kailas Naik and EC member Tulsidas Raul. It will adjudicate in matters related to questions raised on the bonafide of any member as a working journalist and his/her title to membership of the union is doubted. The Committee will also screen new GUJ membership application forms on a case to case basis.
Naik and Pagi apart, the GUJ Disciplinary Committee will comprise of GUJ Co-opted EC member Marcus Mergulhao and Ashley do Rosario.
The Disciplinary Committee in consultation with the EC shall have the powers to suspend or terminate membership by a two-third majority any member who acts contrary to the code of conduct, journalistic or professional ethics, or in any matter prejudicial to the interests of the profession in general and the union.
Member-journalists who act against the policy, objectives and constitution of the union or are found lacking in handling union funds or who side with news media organisations against interests of other members of the union in the same organization will also be investigated by the Committee.
Meanwhile, GUJ has roped in Anita Haladi, researcher and former associate professor for gender studies at Goa University to be part of the Committee against Sexual Harassment at Workplace.
Journalists Gauree Malkarnekar and Teja Arondekar will also be part of the panel which will facilitate complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace in media houses based in Goa.
The committee will study the cases on a fast track basis and prepare a report to be submitted for further legal action. The formal committee report and the complaint will be handed over to District Complaints Committee formed under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act.
The terms of all the three committees will be of two years and concurrent with that of the current GUJ Executive Committee 2019-2021.
Appeals against decisions of these committees shall lie with the General Body.
