Key Points :
- Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association has criticised the hindering of door to door delivery of newspapers by housing societies.
- The State government allowed doorstep supply of newspapers early in June.
- The MahaSeWa called the newspaper delivery an essential service and called hindering it illegal.
Mumbai : The State authorities allowed doorstep supply of newspapers early in June but regardless of this, a number of housing societies are prohibiting distribution. The Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association has called this “wrong and illegal” and said the society members pushing copies by way of third events corresponding to guards or native workers is further complicating issues.
MahaSe-WA is the most important affiliation of housing societies within Maharashtra state.
Ramesh Prabhu, President of MahaSeWA stated in an announcement, “Dwelling supply of newspapers is a necessary service that ought to not face any hindrance. It has come to our notice that there are some housing societies and Resident Welfare Associations which aren’t permitting distribution of newspapers to their residents. That is mistaken and isn’t authorized. In these instances of acute disinformation, hyperbole, rumours and faux information, it’s newspapers that deliver credibility and uphold the proper of knowledge for the individuals. Free circulation and distribution of newspapers is an inseparable and important a part of dissemination of knowledge and is protected by Article 19(1)(a) of the Structure of India guaranteeing proper to free speech.”
He highlighted CM Uddhav Thackeray’s statement saying that the CM had in his address made a particular point of mentioning having allowed doorstep delivery of newspapers. He further mentioned that the federal government’s ‘Unlock’ notification of June 6 too had made a mention of it.
Prabhu stated additionally that the affiliation was appealing to office bearers of housing societies “to adhere to the laws of the land, and not hinder the entry of newspaper distributors into housing societies and distribution of newspapers to the houses.”
Newspapers are widely believed to be the most credible sources of news in India according to a survey conducted by Ormax Media in September 2020 that found 62% of consumers consider print media as the most reliable source of news.
