Inauguration of Senior Journalist Association’s Pune Office; Prof. Dr. Jaipal Patil Elected Maharashtra State President and Sanjay Joshi as General Secretary

Xtreme News India   20-08-2026 13:48:20   27514805

Inauguration of Senior Journalist Association’s Pune Office; Prof. Dr. Jaipal Patil Elected Maharashtra State President and Sanjay Joshi as General Secretary

Pune, August 19: The Pune office of the Senior Journalist Association, Maharashtra, an organisation working for senior journalists at the national and state levels, was inaugurated today (Wednesday). A meeting of the association’s present and former office-bearers and members from across Maharashtra was also held on the occasion.

The meeting was attended by the organisation’s State President Dr. Jaipal Patil, General Secretary Sanjay Joshi, former president and present executive member Ram Agrawal, Pune District and City President Milind Vaidya, Secretary Chandrakant Kamble, North Maharashtra chief Yadavrao Pawse, Sanjay Vyapari from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Avinash Patil from Panvel, legal advisers Adv. Sunil Rawade and Adv. Omkar Mane, senior journalists Sandeep Pawar and Rajan Wadke, along with other members.

Detailed discussions were held on proposals received from various district and divisional branches, issues concerning senior journalists and proposals to be submitted to the government. Dr. Jaipal Patil, Ram Agrawal, Sanjay Joshi, Yadavrao Pawse, Milind Vaidya and Avinash Patil shared their views.

Dr. Jaipal Patil elected State President and Sanjay Joshi General Secretary

The need for an organisation for senior journalists arose due to health-related difficulties faced by senior journalists and their families, as well as the problems and mental stress caused by stringent conditions under the pension scheme. The number of senior journalists in Maharashtra is increasing, and the organisation aims to address their concerns.

Senior journalist Ram Agrawal of Lokmat and Sanjay Joshi of Sakal had registered the organisation with the Charity Commissioner, Pune, under Registration No. 2023/32/441, with the objective of resolving the problems faced by senior journalists and ensuring that they receive the benefits of various government schemes.

At the meeting, senior journalist from Alibag and disaster-management expert Prof. Dr. Jaipal Patil was unanimously elected as the Maharashtra State President. The Pune office was inaugurated at his hands, and the organisation’s registration certificate was handed over to him by former president Ram Agrawal.

At the meeting held on August 19 at Extreme News India, Swarup Complex, Erandwane, Sanjay Joshi, in his introductory remarks, said that while working with Lokmat, Ram Agrawal had felt that housing projects should be undertaken for journalists and that an organisation should be established to ensure senior journalists received the benefits of government schemes. After Agrawal settled in Pune, he had to take up responsibilities on a Rajya Sabha advisory committee, due to which the organisation’s activities could not progress.

Joshi said that Agrawal had nevertheless made valuable contributions to the journalism fraternity by holding senior positions in several national-level organisations of publishers and journalists, including LIPA, Small and Medium Newspapers of India and the All India Journalists Association (AIJ).

He said the responsibility of Maharashtra President had now been entrusted to Prof. Dr. Jaipal Patil, a photographer, writer, poet, editor and scholarly journalist, and that all members had resolved to work collectively for the welfare of senior journalists and their families.

Sanjay Joshi also thanked Shri Shrikrishna Awdhoot for making independent space available for the association’s office at the Extreme News India premises. The proposal was unanimously approved by all office-bearers.

Yadavrao Pawse, Milind Vaidya, Avinash Patil and Ram Agrawal offered valuable suggestions regarding the functioning of the organisation.

Dr. Jaipal Patil said that since the organisation is recognised by the government, its members should be given opportunities to serve on various Maharashtra government committees as representatives of senior journalists. He stressed the need for immediate health assistance for senior journalists and their families.

He said the organisation would meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and submit memoranda regarding accreditation for senior journalists and the pension scheme. If necessary, the organisation would also organise agitations and marches to seek due respect and fulfilment of the demands of senior journalists.

He further said that workshops would be organised for newcomers to journalism, senior journalists from rural areas would be suitably honoured, and government-recognised YouTube channels and social-media journalists would also be brought into the organisation along with print-media journalists.

Dr. Patil also proposed organising workshops on disaster management and safety. He said that his friend Santosh Patil, owner of Vatsalya Old Age Home at Samari in Alibag taluka, had established a Shivtej Alkaline Pure Water project and that agencies for the project would be offered to the sons and daughters of senior journalists to provide them with an opportunity for financial assistance.

Dr. Patil also advised members to remain prepared for emergencies and disasters, saying that no one can predict when a disaster may strike.

He invited members to attend the National Journalists’ Conference organised by Prajapita Brahma Kumaris at Mount Abu, Rajasthan, from September 8 to 13. He also announced that the Maharashtra State Conference of the organisation would be held in Pune in November.

Appointment letters were handed over to the newly appointed office-bearers: Sanjay Joshi as Maharashtra State General Secretary, Yadavrao Pawse as North Maharashtra Chief, Milind Vaidya as Pune District President, Chandrakant Kamble as Secretary, Bharti Shah as Treasurer, Adv. Sunil Rawade and Adv. Omkar Mane as Advisers, and Avinash Patil as Raigad District General Secretary.

Sanjay Vyapari from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Shrihari Pathardi, Shrikrishna Awdhoot from Pune, Medha Kolhatkar from Ratnagiri and Shrikant Sahasrabuddhe from Mahad, among others, were present at the meeting. Legal adviser Adv. Sunil Rawade proposed the vote of thanks.