Stating newspapers and periodicals being published during colonial era or the time when India gained Independence should be preserved as heritage, State Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Sunday announced that the State Information department would construct a museum with a photo gallery for this purpose.
While speaking at a programme of the Uttarakhand Shramjivi Patrakar Union in the Town Hall, the Chief Minister also said that journalists aged above 50 years will be paid pensions and added that calendars of newspapers and periodicals being published for more than 20 years will also be made.Rawat further said that registered journalists’ bodies will be divided into two categories with provision of Rs 10 lakh grant to large organisations for holding their annual convention and Rs five lakh grant to the smaller organisations.
A separate cell will be formed by the police to ensure immediate action on cases related to harassment of journalists Chief Minister said that attempts should be made so that new generation of journalists can benefit from the experience of veterans. The important role played by the media in political, social and other spheres could not be ignored.
Stating that journalists enjoy professional freedom, he stressed on the need for impartial work. “Today the media also needs to take an initiative and create a self regulation body for itself. The State Government is committed for the welfare of media fraternity and is going to start various beneficial schemes for journalists.
Orders have been issued for drafting a scheme to provide pensions to journalists aged above 50 years and without income. The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority will be issued directions for facilitating guest house for journalists in Dehradun and assistance will also be provided for journalist welfare fund,” said the CM.
Veteran journalist Radha Krishna Kukreti was conferred the lifetime achievement award for commendable work in journalism. A veteran journalist from each district was also awarded the Shramjivi Ratna award while DIG Sanjay Gunjyal and Information Department additional director Dr Anil Chandola were also felicitated. Cabinet ministers Harak Singh Rawat, Dinesh Aggarwal, USPU head Manmohan lakhera, Swami Chidanand of Parmarth Niketan and the Chief Minister’s media in charge Surendra Kumar Agrawal were among those present on the occasion.