She is a self employed freelance journalist now living in Navi Mumbai who used to work for a english daily newspaper before one and a half year. During maternity leave for 90 days she had ceaserian baby, so she needed rest for longer time. But office made her resign forcefully. They did not even encouraged work from home as it was mostly field work. In her words :
If you are not married and not pregnant you get good payment apart from dependence on number of words and article you contribute.
There is a big gender bias both in print and digital media. Maternity leave should be compulsory and should be extended on case to case basis. Atleast they should give leave without pay, or give some role to work from home. Most of the women in the profession are single. The male mentality is that children reduces the efficiency. There are many unions in Navi Mumbai, but they hardly represent problem of freelancer and issues of women. These unions are for namesake and there are lot of groupism in it. They should dissolve all of them, and make fresh one, with regulation.
Journalists are not getting offer letter, media card and are getting hired and fired at management will. The journalist for tier two cities are not considered to be part of the organisation, as they work for supplement. The number of cases between union and managements are increasing. Journalist do not open their mouth as there are limited media houses which they can go to work for.
English