Assam: Hailakandi DC gives away CM's gift items to recognised media persons

HAILAKANDI: Deputy Commissioner, Megh Nidhi Dahal gave away the Chief Minister's New Year gift items to recognised media persons of the district today.

Presenting ceremonially the gift items to nine recognised press persons from print and electronic media at a solemn function held at his office conference hall, Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner, Dahal said, "It's a matter of pride and honour that the Chief Minister himself has acknowledged the contribution of the media persons and gave them New Year gifts as token of goodwill gesture."

Dahal appreciated the contribution of the media during the COVID pandemic by disseminating authentic information to the masses which helped to tide over the situation.

Appealing the media to air unbiased and balanced news with honesty and sincerity and with transparency, Dahal urged them to extend support and cooperation to the administration during the upcoming State Assembly election to ensure free and fair election.

Dahal underscored the need for keeping views and opinions from the purview of news reports and to 'present facts as they are.'

The Deputy Commissioner said the administration would keep a tab on paid news during the election and urged the media to avoid sensationalism.

On receiving complaints that so called news portals without having any relevant document from competent authorities are masquerading as journalists and blackmailing people, Deputy Commissioner asked DIPRO to initiate action to crackdown on them under different sections of IPC.

Media persons also urged the Deputy Commissioner to take up the matter with concerned authority to frame rules for regulating the proliferation of so called news portals by referring to former Chief Secretary, Kumar Sanjay Krishna's directive to regulate the same to prevent fake and misleading news from being circulated.

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Speaking on the occasion, District Information and Public Relations Officer, Sabir Nishat said the present government under the leadership of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has initiated a slew of initiatives for the welfare of journalists such media fellowship, one time grant for media personality, Republic Day Journalism Award, Assam Pension Scheme for Journalists, Press Tour on Goodwill Mission for rural media persons, Journalists Medical Welfare Scheme, one time ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to next of the kin of deceased journalists and Journalist Family Benefit Fund.

Nishat said the present government has been safeguarding the rights of journalists and there has been no instances of attacks on media persons. He urged the media to work in tandem with the administration for the greatest good of the greatest number.

Senior journalist and President of Hailakandi Press Club, Noimul Islam Choudhury thanked the Chief Minister for the gifts and various schemes undertaken by his government for the welfare of media persons of the state. Praising the Chief Minister, Choudhury said he always respects the media persons and upholds the freedom of expression of the fourth estate.

Journalists Nilotpol Deb and Satananda Bhattacharjee also thanked the Chief Minister for the New Year gifts given to them as a goodwill gesture and assured the Deputy Commissioner of their unstinted support and cooperation in the days ahead.