Frequent power breakdowns, no heating arrangements irk journos
Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Dec 4 : The Media Facilitation Centre (MFC) operating from the Information Department’s headquarters in Srinagar established for the journalists in the Valley amid complete internet suspension is facing multiple problems, leaving the scribes affiliated with different organizations in a deep sense of frustration.
According to the wire service— the scribes working in different media outlets complained of erratic power supply and slow internet speed and no heating arrangements have been made for the media men here leaving them to suffer. What adds more to the problems of journalists is frequent power cuts that also snaps the internet supply at times for 30 minutes together.
The central government abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (Article 370) and bifurcated erstwhile State into two Union Territories on August 5. The internet services across Kashmir are suspended since then while the government established Media Facilitation Centre (MFC) for journalists where limited internet access is being provided to the media men.
The MFC was earlier established in a local hotel here following which the centre was shifted to Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) office here. The situation at MFC is irksome for the journos who are being forced to wait for hours to avail internet facilities. Journalists working with different media outlets told that the government has failed to provide proper facilities to the media men.
“There is no heating arrangement and inadequate chairs at MFC. We are not being provided facilities but lack of such facilities indicates that we are being punished for no fault,” a journalist said.
He said that the internet speed at MFC usually remain low, while erratic power supply, no heating arrangement and other inadequate basic facilities are adding to the miseries of journalists.
The journalists demanded immediate restoration of the internet facilities especially broadband services so that the punishment to the journalists would come to an end, adding that working in such atmosphere is tantamount to working as a prisoner. (KNO)
