A CORRESPONDENT
NAGAON: The Nagaon Press Club observed the 18th foundation day today. State Information and Public Relations Minister Pijjush Hazarika graced the occasion as chief guest while local MLA Rupak Sarma, BJP Borhampur LAC MLA Jitu Goswami and former scribe and now principal of Dhing College - Dr Biman Hazarika were present in the celebration as special invitees.
The programme was chaired by Jadab Saikia, president of Nagaon Press Club while upcoming scribe Tapan Kumar Bora anchored the programme. Scribe Nilutpal Bora delivered the welcome address.
On the occasion, the club felicitated four senior scribes and local MLA Rupak Sarma who was dedicatedly involved in the formation as well as the construction of Nagaon Press Club a couple of decades back.
Other those four senior scribes who were felicitated by Nagaon Press Club today. They were Sailen Saikia, Kanak Hazarika, Palash Pratim Hazarika and Jiten Borkatoki.
The club felicitated two well-wishers respectively physicians Dr Pranab Saikia and Simanta Saikia too.
Addressing the occasion state water resource and Information minister Pijush Hazarika said Nagaon sustains a separate history and tradition and he always likes to identify himself as a Nagaonian although the district has been divided as Nagaon and Morigaon.
Referring to the present scenario of the state's journalism and its ethics, the minister said that journalism is the fourth pillar in a democracy like India and to strengthen the democracy media must maintain its free and fair role for which the scribes community must be impartial.
All have the right to criticize in a democracy. But it should be formative, the minister said adding that the state government had already decided to release the payment of advertisement every month to the concerned media houses. Besides, board meetings for selection of medical aids to the scribes and their families under DIPRO, the government ensured in the first week of every month so that the beneficiaries can be availed the benefits under the ongoing scheme, Hazarika added further.
While addressing the occasion, local MLA Rupak Sarma promised to complete all the remaining construction work of Nagaon Press Club within the coming six-seven months and the total cost for it will be spent from his MLA fund. Dr Biman Hazarika also spoke on the occasion and appealed to the community people to work with a zeal of social responsibility.
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