look news india
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that journalists work as the sentinels of society and the fourth pillar of democracy to make the society aware. Journalists work with sensitivity and bring every incident before the public with impartiality and complete truth. He said that the state government is continuously working to further empower this community working fearlessly.
Sharma said at the gratitude ceremony for the announcements made for journalists in the revised budget 2024-25 at the Chief Minister's residence on Thursday that like the administration, politics and police, journalists are also engaged in fulfilling the resolution of the overall welfare of the state and developed Rajasthan. Similarly, journalists should remain aware of social concerns in the future as well. Also, play your important role in empowering every aspect of the society.
Sharma, while remembering late Bishan Singh Shekhawat, said that Shekhawat, who had become synonymous with rural journalism, had set better standards of journalism. All readers eagerly awaited his 'Aao Gaon Chalen' column. He had depicted the traditions of the village, the fabric of social culture and every untouched aspect of the villagers in great detail in this column. Late Shekhawat, a dedicated soldier of the pen, also did a great job of taking the voice of the employees to the government.
While referring to civic duties in the programme, the Chief Minister said that the feeling that one gets while performing one's duties cannot be had by rights. Therefore, we should be alert towards our work with a natural feeling so that we can contribute in taking the country and the state forward. He said that the new generation should also understand the important role of journalism and make efforts to keep it independent, unbiased and strong.
In the program, the journalists thanked the Chief Minister and said that this is the first time that the state government has given priority to journalist welfare in its first budget. The journalists expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister for listening to their demands. On this occasion, the journalists also presented Sharma with a turban, shawl and a memento. The Chief Minister also interacted with the journalists. During this, senior journalists from across the state were present.
The Chief Minister said that it has been our belief from the very beginning that journalists doing good work in the field of journalism should be assessed. Therefore, in this year's revised budget, the government has announced the Late Shri Bishan Singh Shekhawat Journalism Award for journalists doing excellent journalism. Along with this, various steps have been taken in the budget for journalist welfare, including relaxation in the age limit of accreditation for freelance journalists, Rajasthan Journalist Health Scheme for accredited journalists. He assured the journalists that in future also the state government will work to make this pillar of democracy more powerful and strong.
