‘Government wholly committed for overall development and welfare of journalists’

A Correspondent

Hailakandi: The Government of Assam is mulling plans to introduce an insurance scheme for journalists. This was disclosed by Media Adviser to Chief Minister, Hrishikesh Goswami during interaction with media persons of Hailakandi district at the Circuit House here on Sunday.

Accompanied by Officer on Special Duty to Chief Minister for Barak Valley, Sekhar Dey, Goswami, who is on a maiden visit to the district, said the process is on for introducing the insurance scheme for journalists of the state. “Steps have been initiated in right earnest for preparation of modalities and guidelines of insurance scheme for journalists,” he added.

Goswami said that the present government under the able leadership of Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal has introduced a slew of schemes for the welfare of media persons, including their dependents. The Media Adviser to the Chief Minister said that the present government is wholly committed to the welfare of journalists and has initiated a number of schemes like journalists medical welfare scheme, journalist family benefit fund, one time assistance to journalists, one time ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of the kin of the journalists who died in harness, media fellowship for the working journalists and press tour on goodwill mission for the media persons, among others. In the same breath, Goswami said that plans are on the anvil to hold exchange programmes and workshops for those who want to improve their professional skills and enhance knowledge in the field of journalism.

Assuring that he would do everything possible for the overall development and welfare of journalists of the State, Goswami urged them to come forward and avail the schemes meant exclusively for them and to coordinate with the Deputy Commissioner and the District Information and Public Relations Officer for necessary help and assistance. “Let us all think positively, work positively for the good of the society,” he quipped.

Senior journalist Nitish Bhattacharjee, president of Hailakandi Press Club, Noimul Islam Choudhury, and some media persons apprised the Media Adviser to the Chief Minister about the dilapidated condition of the Hailakandi Press Club and sought help from the government for construction of a new building on the existing plot of land. Goswami assured that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister.

General Secretary of Hailakandi Press Club, Rahul Chakravarty submitted a memorandum to the Media Adviser to the Chief Minister. Later Goswami visited the site of the press club and inspected the building accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli and OSD to Chief Minister for Barak Valley, Sekhar Dey.

The members of the press club extended the invitation to the Media Adviser to the Chief Minister to grace the Golden Jubilee function in March next year and made a plea that the Chief Minister be present in the function as chief guest. Goswami asked them to come down to Dispur to discuss the matter with the Chief Minister.

Deputy Commissioner Jalli apprised the Media Adviser to the Chief Minister about the commendable role played by the media during a disturbance in the district, which helped to restore peace and tranquility.

At the end of the interaction, the Media Adviser to Chief Minister, the Deputy Commissioner and the OSD to CM gave away recognised identity cards of DIPR to six journalists of the district.

Earlier, DIPRO, Sabir Nishat welcomed the Media Adviser to the Chief Minister and requested the media persons to place their views and opinions before him without any inhibition. Goswami accompanied by Dey visited the Office of the Deputy Commissioner and held a discussion with Deputy Commissioner Jalli on a gamut of issues.

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