Karnataka newspaper distributors have adopted a resolution seeking welfare funds from the central and state governments, housing support and electric two-wheelers for their work, at the sixth state-level conference of distributors held in Belagavi on Wednesday.
More than 1,000 newspaper distributors from different parts of Karnataka attended the conference organised by the Karnataka State Newspaper Distributors’ Federation and the Belagavi Daily Newspaper Distributors’ Association at Dharmanath Bhavan. The resolution called for distributors to be recognised as an important part of the media system and for dedicated welfare funding for their families.
The conference also renewed a demand for the Karnataka government to allocate ₹10 crore to a newspaper distributors’ welfare fund. The report said that Siddaramaiah, during an earlier period as Chief Minister, had announced the creation of such a fund and a grant of ₹2 crore, but that the commitment had not been implemented.
The distributors’ organisations said newspaper delivery is carried out every day in the early hours, with distributors taking newspapers to households. The conference cited an estimate that there are more than 25 lakh newspaper distributors across the country and argued that their social security should be addressed through a welfare fund created by the Union government.
Other demands included government assistance for housing, electric two-wheelers for newspaper distribution and relaxation of Labour Department regulations applicable to distributors. The demands place the distributors’ work within a wider question of how informal and semi-formal urban delivery workers receive social protection, equipment support and access to housing.
The conference also launched a Newspaper Distributors Charitable Trust, with journalist K.V. Prabhakar appointed as its president. Prabhakar announced the first contribution of ₹1 lakh, while journalist Dileep Kurundawade and the Karnataka Working Journalists’ Association each announced ₹1 lakh. Several distributors pledged contributions ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000.
Distributors across the state also agreed to contribute ₹100 every month to the trust. The organisers did not announce a government order or confirmed budget allocation for the proposed welfare fund at the conference.
K.V. Prabhakar inaugurated the event, while Belagavi Daily Newspaper Distributors’ Association honorary president Pratap Bhosle presided. Karnataka Working Journalists’ Association president Shivanand Tagadur, distributors’ federation president Shambhulingappa, general secretary P. Suresh and other office-bearers attended.
The conference also honoured students who performed well in SSLC and pre-university examinations. Awards were presented to editors, reporters, bureau chiefs, circulation staff and distributors, including the ‘Newspaper Distributor Sevaratna’ awards. The next steps will depend on whether the state and central governments respond to the welfare, housing, mobility and regulatory demands adopted at the meeting.
