Mysore/Mysuru: With the print media facing a crisis following the COVID-19 lockdown and the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) dashing off a letter to the Centre seeking announcement of an urgent stimulus package, City Congress leader M. Lakshmana has urged the Government to come up with an exclusive print media and job security policy to bail out the industry from the crisis.

Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhavan near the City Railway Station on Monday, he said that the Government must also announce measures for saving jobs in the print industry, which are under threat due to lockdown. He also wanted the Government to pay Rs.50 lakh as compensation to the families of scribes in case of death due to Coronavirus.

Maintaining that a PIL has been filed in the Karnataka High Court seeking a direction to the Health Department to pay wages to doctors and other medical staff who have not been paid for the past four months, he urged the Government to clear the wages of medical staff who are playing a very critical role in combating the deadly virus.

Alleging that some Banks, Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies were sending messages to borrowers for payment of loan installments in violation of the Government’s three-month moratorium, he urged the Government to take a serious look at this matter.

Stating that the Congress has reliable information that the lockdown which is supposed to end on May 3 will be extended further by a fortnight, the Congress leader demanded the Union Government to announce a Rs.25,000 crore special package for the welfare of unorganised working class. 

He also wanted the State Government to allow sugar factories to start crushing of sugarcane as a special case, in order to save the standing crop from withering.

 City Congress President R. Murthy urged the Government not to buckle under the pressure of liquor lobby, which is allegedly pressurising the Government to allow Bars and Restaurants to sell their stocks.

Former Karnataka State Women’s Commission Chairperson Manjula Manasa demanded distribution of protection kits to all Pourakarmikas of the State. District Congress President Dr. B.J. Vijaykumar too spoke.