CM announces medical reimbursement for journalists

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by Haryananewswire (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, SEPT 21
 Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced that the facility of medical reimbursement would be given to the journalists within a month and he also offered free training facility in journalism at Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra  to those journalists who would like to upgrade their skill or knowledge.
          Mr Hooda, who was speaking at a State level Patrakar Puruskar Samman Samaroh here today, said that the journalists should write fact-based objective news and that too after making thorough investigation. He also urged them to desist from following the concept of ‘Sabse Tej, Sabse Pehle aur Sabse Agge” (fastest of all, first of all and in the forefront of all), as in the process of being fastest of all the facts of the news are not highlighted thus eroding the credibility of the media.
          He said, "There are six honest servants of the journalist. They are what, why, when, where, who and how. The journalist observing this principle could never deviate from the facts." He urged the journalists to choose words very carefully realizing the fact that their impact would be felt by the society. They should choose the words by their instinct and they should not have malice against anyone while writing news.
          Expressing his concern over the new trend of publishing news item like advertisements, Mr Hooda also urged the newspapers not to publish such news as these mislead the people and erode the credibility of the newspaper. He said that the journalists were rendering yeoman’s service to the society by creating awakening among the people. They also played an important role in our freedom struggle. At that time, our great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak were directly associated with journalism.
          He said that today, our society had become media-ridden which has both benefits and disadvantages. However, an independent press has more benefits than disadvantages. He regretted that today editor of a newspaper did not enjoy as much powers as he used to enjoy before independence. At that time, editors themselves were the owners of the newspaper, but today, they were serving the proprietor of the newspaper.
          The Chief Minister said that a journalist should be inquisitive which would make him know all facts about the events being reported. Nothing was impossible for the journalist having inquisitiveness. The journalists has to face a lot of challenges in the era of information technology. He cautioned that commercialisation should not be allowed to overpower journalism and added that journalism should be taken as a mission and a journalist should never lose his balance of mind in the hour of crisis.
         Pen is mightier than sword as pen could change the thinking of a person and as such a journalist should discharge his duty towards society and nation honestly and dedicatedly by bringing facts of the developments or events before the people, he added.
          While delivering his keynote address, Mr Raj Chengappa, Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune said that a journalist required a lot of skill, degree of depth and ability to segregate the most important news item from the huge supply of news which they get from various sources these days. They should be self sufficient and should have the knack to write news in the simplest way. They should present true picture of the events or development before the readers.
          Describing press as one of the major pillars of democracy, he said that journalists should be objective while writing news. They should focus on the small towns as major events were taking place in smaller cities rather than in big cities. People wanted to know about the activities taking place in villages or smaller cities and journalists should report these events to pacify the eagerness of the people. That was the reason why regional press had become very powerful these days as it felt the pulse of common people.People wanted credible news and journalists should give true and accurate news, he added.
          He said that today print media was facing tremendous challenges from internet and new media like mobile phones. During the last two years or so, India had witnessed biggest revolution in the field of mobile phones as there are about 500 million sets of mobile in India today. All information was coming on mobile and newspapers were feeling the heat of this new media. The print media would have to meet these challenges, besides dealing with the unfortunate trend of paid news, which was eroding the credibility of the newspapers, he added.
          Speaking on this occasion, Ms Sharda Rathore said that journalism was a challenging job. Journalists had to report even at the cost of their lives. They write not only news, but also history. Both journalism and politics have many things in common. Both have common objective of public awakening and public service. The journalists had played a vital role in our freedom struggle and in the development of the country.Press was called the fourth estate of democracy. Journalists also played a role of a guide for the political leaders, besides delivering their duty to the society honestly, she added.
          Ms Rathore said that the three P's that is  Police, Public Relations and Press have 24-hour and all 365 days job.
          She regretted that international media was bit biased against India and it sees the Indian events in the western perspective. She also urged that the journalists neither to publish misleading news not the sponsored news which affects journalism. This trend should be checked, she added.
          Addressing the journalists, Dr K.K. Khandelwal, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister said that the famous lines by Robert Frost, "Miles to go... Miles to go... before I sleep" has become mirror of development in Haryana.
          He said, "The Haryana Chief Minister is the man of action. He has the vision of the development of farmers, uplift of downtrodden and enlightens the society.
          He said that a journalist was associated only with his duty and not with an individual. The Indian journalists were known for their boldness throughout the world. He pointed out that not to compromise with any situation was the real strength of the Indian journalists. They performed their duty with full dedication and their aim was to eradicate evils prevailing in the society. Indian journalists didn't adopt any stunt for marketing, he added.
          He said that the journalists played a vital role in the freedom struggle of the country. Our great freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak were also journalists. The contribution of journalism in the freedom struggle would always be remembered.
          He said that the journalists for the awards had been selected by a committee of journalists. Haryana was the first State in the country, where seven awards were given at district level.
          The Chief Minister conferred Life Time Achievement Awards upon Mr N.S. Parwana, Special Correspondent, Punjab Kesari (Delhi), Chandigarh and Ajit Punjabi, Jallandhar, Mr B.K. Chum, Freelance Journalist, Chandigarh and Mr Manmohan Sharma, Special Correspondent, Punjab Kesari, Delhi. The award carried Rs 1.51 lakh in cash, a commendation certificate, a memento and a shawl.
          Commemorative Awards, namely Shri Satpal Saini Award for Excellence in Journalism and Shri Rajender Hooda Memorial Journalist Excellence Award were conferred upon Mr Sushil Manav, Staff Correspondent, The Tribune, Fatehabad and Mr Ramesh Vinayak, the then Group Bureau Chief, India Today, Chandigarh and now Resident Editor of Hindustan Times respectively. These awards carried Rs one lakh each in cash, a commendation certificate, a memento and a shawl.
          In addition to it, the  State level awards for journalists based at New Delhi and Chandigarh were also given and each award carried Rs 51,000 in cash, a commendation certificate, a memento and a shawl. Special State Journalism Encouragement Award for print media and electronic media journalists carried Rs 41,000 in cash, a commendation certificate and a shawl. Each of the  district level awards carried Rs 21,000 in cash, a commendation certificate, a memento and a shawl.
          Those present on the occasion included MLAs Mr Sampar Singh and Mr B.B.Batra, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Chhatar Singh, Principal OSD to Chief Minister, Mr M.S.Chopra,Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister –cum-Director,Information, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, Mr Shiv Raman Gaur, Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Prof. Virender, Media Adviser to Chief Minister, Mr Sunder Pal, Additional Media Advisors to Chief Minister, Mr Sunil Parti and Mr Kewal Dhingra.