The way journalists and the politicians think and view things is different. It is vital that this difference be respected for a healthy democracy. The media fraternity should submit drafts of life insurance and health insurance for themselves, which the State will readily implement. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat said this while expressing happiness at the reopening of the press club in Dehradun after seven years.
Remembering recently deceased senior journalists Umashankar Thapliyal and Manoj Kandwal, the chief minister stressed that the issue of social security for journalists should be foremost. He said that if the journalists agree then a member each of all journalist organisations can be nominated to the journalist welfare fund committee and Press accredition committee.
Rawat directed the Dehradun district magistrate Ravinath Raman to look for land suitable for constructing a guest house for journalists. If suitable land is not found for this purpose, the State Government will provide assistance for construction of a guest house building in the compound of the Press Club, he said.
The CM said, “The State Government respects the profession of journalism and wants to facilitate a system wherein journalism in Uttarakhand doesn’t appear influenced or functioning under pressure. However, it is also the responsibility of journalists to avoid the tendency of sensationalising news. Following the destruction wreaked by the June 2013 disaster, major efforts went to restore the Char Dham Yatra and tourism in the State. However, this year when some roads were blocked in the monsoon, media reports presented such a picture that about 32 per cent tourist bookings were cancelled resulting in loss to those in the tourism sector,” said the CM.
Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli reiterated his earlier announcement of Rs 10 lakh for the Press Club. He assured that more help, if required, would be provided to help improve the condition of the Press Club. Rajpur Road MlA Rajkumar also announced Rs 10 lakh from his lAD fund for renovation of the building. Samajwadi Party former Uttarakhand head and Uttar Pradesh CM’s adviser Vinod Barthwal said that the Press Club is useful for residents of Dehradun and the State from the viewpoint of social, cultural and political activities. Veteran journalist and founding member of the Press Club, Charu Chandra Chandola exhorted the journalists to unite in the interests of Uttarakhand. The petrol dealers’ association also announced that it would provide 10 ceiling fans for the hall here.
Earlier, at a general meeting of the Press Club, its executive headed by president Yogesh Bhatt and general secretary Devendra Sati was authorized to activate various facilities of the press club and other tasks. A hawan was also held in the Press Club with Mussoorie MlA Ganesh Joshi, Pradesh Congress Committee president Kishore Upadhyay and chief minister’s media in charge Surendra Kumar being among others being present on the occasion.