Sunday, May 28, 2017

Haryana CM announces pension, other incentives for media persons

Chandigarh, May 27 - Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal today announced a number of incentives for the media persons in the State. These included monthly pension of Rs 10,000 to the media persons aged 60 years and above who have completed 20 years of service, life insurance of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh on sharing basis, and cashless mediclaim of Rs five lakh.
        The Chief Minister was addressing a well-attended Swarna Jayanti Journalists Meet at Indradhanush Auditorium in Panchkula, near here, today.
        He said that now media persons who have completed five years in the profession will be given recognition. At present there are two categories of media persons, accreditated and non-accreditated. Now accreditation would be given to one representative of each electronic media organisation at sub-divisional level. 
The Chief Minister announced that a new policy would also be framed for giving recognition to representatives of web news portals. A committee would also be formed to give suggestions in this regard. 
        Apart from this, to facilitate media persons at district level, media centres would be established in two rooms adjacent to or in the office of District Information and Public Relations Officer (DIPRO) in each district of the State.
        The Chief Minister said that the State Government had also decided that media persons aged 60 years and above, who have 20 years’ experience in any news organisation, would be eligible to avail the benefits of pension scheme.
        Prior to Independence, political leaders and representatives of media houses were subjected to torture but the might of pen did not bow before such forces. Not only this, they also contributed to bringing about reforms in the society after Independence, he added.
        The Chief Minister compared the role of a media person to that of a soldier as he had to perform duty in difficult circumstances, and also capture rare photographs even at the borders. They have also to consider which news should be released when. While positive news could create new consciousness in the society, negative news could create sensation, he added.
Some media groups are indulging in yellow journalism which can bring them fame for some time but ultimately it creates hurdles in the creation of a welfare society. Highlighting the importance of social media in the present era of Information Technology, he said news or information through this medium could be disseminated from one country to another in no time.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister highlighted various schemes launched by the state government for the welfare of the people. The state government is working with a broad view and has prepared Vision 2030 to implement long-term projects. This is the third year of government in the state. This is the year of performance during which all announcements made so far would be executed.
Long-term projects would be made for the next 10 to 15 years so that future generations could benefit from them. The state government is working with the intention to serving the people, and not to garner votes in elections.
He hoped that the people would vote BJP to the power for the second consecutive term also in the next elections. "We are working with the spirit of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ and opposition parties have also appreciated this step," he added.
Speaking on the occasion, the Information, Public Relations and Languages Minister, Mrs Kavita Jain, said it was for the first time in the last 50 years of the state when such a huge Journalists Meet had been organized. Media persons always played the role of reformer in the society and worked as a bridge between the government and the public.
         It is in acknowledgment of their role in society that they are considered as the fourth pillar of democracy. She urged representatives of media houses to take various welfare schemes and programmes being implemented by the state government to every doorstep to facilitate the people. 
        The Haryana BJP President, Mr Subhash Barala, also spoke on this occasion. The Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Rajesh Khullar, presented the welcome address.
        Earlier, veteran journalist and former vice-chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi University, Bhopal, Mr Radhey Shyam Sharma, presented his views on the role of media in the society.
Among those present included MP Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, MLAs Mr Gian Chand Gupta and Mrs Latika Sharma, State BJP Media In charge, Mr Rajiv Jain, Media Advisor to Chief Minister, Mr Amit Arya, Director, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Mr T.L. Satyaprakash, and officers of the Panchkula district administration.
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