BILASPUR: The State Government would be considering uniformity in rental charges of all the journalists in the state owned rest houses, enhancement in the Journalist Welfare Fund to Rs. 1.80 lakhs and increase in the advertisement rates of the advertisement rates of small newspapers.

This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, in his presidential address delivered at the State Level Annual Conference of the HP State Journalists Federation, at Bilaspur on Monday.

Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to the welfare of the working journalists and various facilities were being extended to them in discharging their duties more conveniently. He said that in his earlier term the state government had extended many facilities to the journalists. He said that the state government would be taking effective steps to ensure that all the accreditated journalists at different level were charged uniformly and there was no discrimination in the rental charges. He said that the Journalilsts Welfare Fund created with Rs. 1.00 lakh provisions would also be considered for enhancement to Rs. 1.80 lakh with a view to safeguard the interests of the journalists. He said that there had been consistent demand from the non-DAVP approved small newspapers to increase their advertisement rates. He said that the state government would be examining the possibilities of enhancing the same by atleast 35 percent so that such newspapers were also compensated suitably.

Dhumal emphasized the need for giving proper attention, space and time for developmental, social welfare and environmental activities in the print and electronic media. He said that every newspaper and electronic channel had their correspondents for various fields but less for those which concerned the major chunk of population. He said that a study by the Centre for Media Studies shows that health, education, environment and agriculture were on the back burner in the media. He said that while there was hardly any reporter for covering these areas on a regular basis despite 72 percent of the population living in the rural areas in India. He said that there was a big fleet of reporters for covering fashion shows, secondary car markets and launch of new products but not adequate coverage to the primary sectors. He said that the electronic media was devoting prime time in telecasting entertainment related programmes and negligible time for matters of public interest. He said that such sectors needed to be covered fully to uphold the rich traditions of the free and fair journalism.

Chief Minister said that responsible and principled journalism was the need of the hour for dissemination of the information to every person. He said that the state had made rapid strides on all fronts despite financial constraints and difficult geophysical conditions to emerge the role modern in all major sectors. He said that the state had fixed its targets and would be achieving the same in a time bound manner.

Prof. Dhumal reiterated the resolve of his government to protect the interests of the working journalists and extend them all possible facilities to perform their duties more conveniently. He said that besides other benefits the state government had also provided financial assistance to the journalists for their medical treatment out of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. He said that all the remaining demands of the journalists would also be considered sympathetically on priority.

Chief Minister said that he was fully aware of the developmental needs of Bilaspur and all out efforts being made to give momentum to the same in the district. He said that the state government had already sanctioned one IPH Circle and Women IRB had already been sanctioned for the district. He counted other developmental milestones established in the district by the state government.

Chief Minister also gave away cash prizes to the outstanding students' competition of various events organized by the Federation. He launched the Journalists' Life Insurance Scheme in accidental cases and released souvenir brought out by the organization to mark the function.

Chief Minister also conferred Lala Jagat Narain Award to Veteran Journalist Shri Santosh Kumar and Ramesh Chander Award upon Vijay Sehgal, former Editor, Dainik Tribune. He also honoured various members of the Federation and other people, who had contributed significantly in journalism and social welfare activities.

J.P. Nadda, Forest and Environment Minister said that he had continuously been pursuing the various issues of interest of the Journalists at different levels, weather in the ruling as opposition. He said that the contribution of journalists in maintaining link between Government and the governed had always been significant. He said that a modern auditorium had been planned to be constructed in the district Headquarter in near future to facilitate organizations to organize various social and official functions.

Jai Kumar, President, H.P. State Journalists Federation welcomed the Chief Minister and presented a demand charter to him, requesting him for remedial steps at appropriate level to deliver relief to the working journalists. He also honoured Chief Minister for his gesture of granting financial assistance to Seema Sood of Palampur, who was speedily recovering from the severe joint and arthritis ailments.

V.P. Prabhakar and Vijay Sehgal, the veteran journalists also addressed the Conference. While Nitin Acharya read the message of his father veteran journalist Shri Santosh Kumar.