Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announces an increase in the number of accredited journalists at tehsil, district and state levels.
Journalist pension amount to be increased.
Journalists play an important role in strengthening democracy and bringing public grievances to the government, says Dhami.
State government committed to the welfare and interests of journalists.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the Diwali celebrations organised by the Uttaranchal Press Club in Dehradun. On the occasion, he extended advance Diwali greetings and best wishes to journalists and members of the press club.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that the festival of lights would bring happiness, prosperity and good health into everyone's lives.
During the event, Dhami made two important announcements for the welfare of journalists. He said the number of accredited journalists at the tehsil, district and state levels would be increased. He also announced that the pension amount provided to journalists would be enhanced.
The Chief Minister said journalism was not only the fourth pillar of democracy but also an important medium of communication between society and the government. Journalists inform the public about government welfare schemes and policies while also bringing people's problems, concerns and expectations to the attention of the government.
He emphasised that the active and constructive role of journalists was vital in strengthening the democratic system.
Describing journalism as a mirror of society, Dhami said it helped the government and administration understand the ground-level impact of various schemes and development initiatives. Suggestions and feedback from journalists also helped make governance more effective and responsive to public needs.
Referring to the tradition of communication associated with Devarshi Narad, the Chief Minister said journalists were discharging their responsibilities with dedication and a strong sense of duty.
Dhami observed that the media and communication landscape had undergone rapid changes in recent years. Digital platforms, social media and emerging technologies had opened up significant opportunities for journalism. However, the spread of fake news and misleading information had also emerged as a major challenge.
In this situation, he said, journalists had an even greater responsibility to verify facts and provide accurate, reliable and impartial information to the public. Credible journalism not only protects society from misinformation but also strengthens democratic values.
The Chief Minister said the state government was sensitive to the concerns and welfare of journalists. Various steps had been taken to address issues related to their safety, health insurance, emergency assistance and housing facilities.
He added that the government was working to ensure that accredited journalists could access various government schemes while also safeguarding the dignity and social security interests of senior journalists.
Dhami pointed out that the state government had earlier increased the journalist pension amount. In addition, the Journalist Welfare Fund had been enhanced from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore.
He said the government's endeavour was to provide journalists with the necessary facilities and support so that they could discharge their professional responsibilities effectively.
The Chief Minister further said continuous efforts were being made to establish Uttarakhand as a prominent centre in the field of mass communication. Work was underway to equip media centres with modern facilities and strengthen press clubs across the state.
He assured that the government would continue taking positive steps to promote journalists' welfare and address their practical concerns.
Dhami said the state government was working consistently to make Uttarakhand one of the leading states in the country. Suggestions and constructive cooperation from journalists would play an important role in achieving this objective.
He expressed confidence that journalists would continue to extend their support to issues concerning the state's development and public welfare.
Cabinet Minister Khajan Das, Director General of Information Banshidhar Tiwari, Uttaranchal Press Club President Ajay Singh Rana, General Secretary Yogesh Semwal, Treasurer Manish Dangwal and a large number of journalists were present at the event.
