Despite information being disseminated through massive use of social media, journalists’ role and responsibilities have remained unchanged, viewed Union Petroleum and Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan here on Thursday.
Addressing scribes at the Press Day function held here jointly by the National Journalist Welfare Board (NJWB), Door Darshan Centre, Akashbani, Amit College and others, Pradhan said journalists, like people’s representatives, play a vital role in controlling people. If the State Government builds a Bhavan for journalists, he would provide financial support, said Pradhan.
Finance Minister Shashi Bhushan Behera said profession of journalism helps the society a lot. Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surjya Narayan Patro remarked that there has been a massive difference between scribes of the firth generation and present time. Odisha High Court’s Justice Bijay Kumar Nayak hailed pension provision made by the NJWB for the last 10 years. Among others, “The Samaj” publisher Niranjan Rath, senior journalists like Arun Kumar Panda and Abatar Batra spoke.
On the occasion, senior scribe Ramhari Mishra was conferred with the ‘Utkal Sambadika Ratna Samman’ and heads of eight media houses of different places from the country given the ‘Rashtriya Sambadika Gourav Samman’ .
Journalism students including Arpita Mohapara were honoured with Rabinarayan Mohanty Smaraki Samman, Pinki Pradhan with “Gopal Mishra Smaraki Samman’, Priyadharhini Das with ‘Barendra Dhal Samaraki Samman’. Besides, many senior journalists above the age of 65 years were given NJWB pension.
Among others, president Pradosh Patnaik and vice-president Pradyumna Kumar Mohanty were present.