Small, medium newspapers to get more patronage

Our Correspondent

Silchar, May 29: The much needed fully fledged office of the Deputy Director of Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) would be soon set up in Silchar. This was assured by Rajib Prakash Barua, Director of DIPR, on Monday evening at an interaction session held with the mediapersons at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar. The interaction session was held with around 30 mediapersons representing both print and electronic media. He acknowledged the urgent necessity of setting up such an important and vital office.

Representatives of small and medium newspapers of Barak Valley put forth their problems, issues and concerns which are relevant and related to advertisements and its rates. Rajib Prakash Barua said, “I am aware of that. But of late, a number of such newspapers have started to get advertisements. However, I assure that all other such newspapers which are published on regular basis will get advertisements. The rates may be less now, but I am trying my level best to increase the rates too. Rates revision would soon be carried out. Amendments will be incorporated into the existing advertisements policy.”

The precarious condition of the regional office of DIPR in Silchar needs urgent and immediate renovation. Rajib Prakash Barua also assured that concrete steps would soon be taken in this regard. In this district, there are many eligible mediapersons who are yet to get accreditation and recognition cards. They have been deprived of the benefits of such an important card. “Availing accreditation and recognition cards at district level is not difficult. The process is simple. Once all formalities are done, I or whoever may be the authority concerned will just have put his or her signature. I assure that all eligible mediapersons will get it,” the director added.

The director further said that the outstanding bills would be cleared at the earliest. There are many small and medium newspapers which are yet to get their dues cleared. “All the outstanding bills will be cleared very soon. The newly presented budget has allocated and sanctioned money for newspapers,” said Rajib Prakash Barua. Later, he visited the offices of Bengali dailies Dainik Jugasankha, Samayik Prasanga, Dainik Prantojyoti and the local television channel Barak Television Network (BTN).