GUWAHATI: Guwahati Press Club (GPC) will be issuing temporary identity cards to all the newspaper hawkers based in Guwahati.
The decision has been taken by the GPC in view of the problem faced by hawkers while distributing daily newspapers during lockdown, which has severely affected the distribution chain.
The decision to issue temporary ID cards has been informed to the officer bearers of 'All Guwahati Newspaper Hawkers' Association' in an informal meeting organised under the aegis of Assam Tribune Employees' Union.
Meanwhile, Police and Civil administration have welcomed the initiative taken by the GPC for ensuring smooth distribution of newspapers.
Earlier, on March 25, the Assam Government has exempted newspapers from the 21-day lockdown.
In the new list of exempted goods issued by the government on March 24, newspaper hawkers have been exempted only to distribute papers among the masses.
Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, in a press conference on March 25, informed that the Deputy Commissioner had met with the hawkers' association and asked them to distribute the daily newspapers.
However, members of the association informed that many people have declined to take regular delivery of newspapers fearing it as a medium to spread coronavirus.