A CORRESPONDENT
HAILAKANDI: The Hailakandi district administration organized a get together with media persons at the Officers' Recreation Club here on Friday evening.
Deputy Commissioner, Megh Nidhi Dahal, District Development Commissioner, Ranjit Kumar Laskar, Superintendent of Police, Pabindra Kumar Nath, Chief Executive Officer, Hailakandi Zilla Parishad, Jaydeep Shukla, OSD to Chief Minister, Shekhar Dey and District Information and Public Relations Officer, Sabir Nishat felicitated the media persons of the district on the occasion.
Veteran journalists Debdas Purkayastha and Santosh Kumar Mazumdar were also felicitated with 'uttorio' and presented mementoes by Deputy Commissioner, Dahal.
In his welcome address, DIPRO, Nishat said since day one of assuming office as Deputy Commissioner, Megh Nidhi Dahal was planning to hold an interactive session with the media persons to know their views and concerns but due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, he couldn't. He hoped that such a get together with media persons will help the administration in understanding the issues at hand and in bringing the administration closer to the people.
District Development Commissioner, Laskar said the informal get together would enable to build bridges of understanding between the administration and the media and in ushering in development in the district.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner, Dahal said due to COVID-19 pandemic and the demise of former Chief Minister, the administration had to defer the get together with media persons. He said the administration is giving top priority to the development agenda and toward this end seek the unstinted support and cooperation of the media in the days ahead. "Though there are problems galore in the district, I want to put the district on the path of progress and development by initiating measures in right earnest by solving the problems with the support and cooperation of the media. 'I wish by the time I leave Hailakandi, I want to see the district making progress and development on various fronts," quipped Dahal.
The Deputy Commissioner complimented the print and electronic media of the district for disseminating authentic information on the COVID-19 despite misinformation on the social media and helping in arresting the spread of the disease.
He hoped the informal get together with press persons would help the administration in serving the people in a better way in the coming days.
Veteran journalists Debdas Purkayastha and Santosh Kumar Mazumdar spoke on the trials and tribulations they had to encounter during their career spanning several decades while reporting every incident in those days when there was no internet connectivity and mobile phone. Emphasizing on the need for correct flow of information, both the veteran journalists said, "Reporting from the place of incident is essential for dissemination of correct information so that people get a real picture and are not misled in any manner."
They complimented the administration for organising such an informal get together with media persons and in according felicitation to them.
Later, office bearers of Hailakandi Press Club briefed the OSD to CM, Shekhar Dey about the dilapidated condition of the Press Club building. Dey urged the members of the Press Club to meet Media Adviser to CM, Hrishikesh Goswami for apprising him about the matter for necessary steps.