Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a Press Club at Karamtoli Chowk in Ranchi on Saturday. The CM stressed on the fact that the Press Club will be completed within a time frame of 18 months and `6 crore have been sanctioned for the same. The CM stressed on the significance of the health of journalists and thus, announced the facility of a state-of-the-art gym in the club, too.
“The State Government realises the effort, struggles and difficulties faced by the journalists here. We are not only fully aware of it but also want to take this opportunity to assure you that the needs of the journalists will be taken proper care of,” the CM said.
“We will aim at completing this Club at the earliest and will soon lay foundation stones for Press Clubs at Dhanbad and Deoghar. All journalists should realise they are quite valuable for the State and should keep themselves healthy and fine. We are also aiming to have a gym complex in the Club. Earlier, the State Government granted `5 lakh as aid to kin of reporters who died in accidents but now, we would extend it to every reporter of the State even if they die under normal circumstances. I am going to visit late journalist Rahul Priyadarshi’s family in Dumka and hand over the cheque to them very soon,” he added.
Although the CM appreciated scribes’ dedication and hard work, he also addressed the rising issue of sensationalisation and dramatisation of certain news. “Every journalist was bound by one mission and that was social cause but nowadays, it can be noticed that journalism is soon turning into a business. It’s not bad to earn revenue out of advertisements but the primary aim should not be overlooked at any cost. Media has a big role in changing the picture of the society. It should focus more on the social issues and highlight the Government’s role in resolving them. It’s an assurance that their needs will not go unnoticed in the State,” said Das.
Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of Information and Public Relations department said that after the establishment of this Club, the State and the journalist family can be one and work in tandem. “The media and the Government should always be able to sit together and discuss amongst ourselves and then only, we can reach some definite conclusion. This will lead to the overall growth of our nation,” said Kumar.
Senior Journalist Balbir Dutt also addressed the gathering and expressed a thanks note to Secretary of Building Construction Department KK Soan. “The state-of-the art Press Club should be thrown open to all of us very soon as the Building Construction department and our Chief Minister has both expressed their willingness to complete it before time,” he said.