No allocation to train professional journalists disheartening, says Gasim Ibrahim

Chair of the budget review committee of the parliament MP Gasim Ibrahim has said today that it is disheartening that the government has not allocated finances to train professional journalists in the 2014 state budget.

Speaking at a budget review committee meeting with the cabinet's social council today, Gasim said that it is worrying that the government has not allocated money for the Maldives Media Council to train local journalists for 2014. He promised to discuss the matter within the budget review committee.

“It disheartens us that you are unable to train people. This is a serious issue. It is sad that we cannot produce professional journalists along with the increase in population. This concerns us,” said Gasim, who was greatly scrutinized by the media during the presidential campaign.

In a move to reduce the budget and state expenditure, the government has cut the portion allocated for trainings of staff in a number offices and institutions for 2014.

Maldives Media Council proposed a MVR 6.3 million budget for 2014, which was cut down to MVR 3.9 million by the Finance Ministry when it was presented to the parliament. The budget was further reduced to MVR 3.8 million following review of the budget by the new administration. The council was awarded MVR 3.3 million for 2013.

Expressing concern over the budget cuts, Maldives Media Council President Mohamed Husham told the parliamentary budget review committee that the current allocation is so small that it will pose difficulties in the administration of the council, in addition difficulties for the conducting regular meetings, along with obstructions to providing services to the public. He has asked the budget committee to add between MVR 900,000 and MVR 1 million to the budget, which he says, is needed to pay overtime salaries and hire additional staff.

Maldives Media Council also asked the budget committee to add a further MVR 400,000, enough to provide scholarships to three locals for undergraduate studies, two more scholarships to study for diplomas and fund a program on parliamentary reporting.