CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh and Haryana Journalists Union distributed free insurance policy of Rs 10 lakh each to CHJU member journalists of Kurukshetra district. On this occasion, a seminar was organized on the topic of responsibility of journalists towards the society under the joint aegis of CHJU district unit and Press Club, Kurukshetra.
The cost of these personal insurance policies of Rs 10 lakh each has been borne by CHJU itself, this expense was not taken from the members. CHJU President Ram Singh Brar, the keynote speaker of the seminar, said that journalists should raise their voice if atrocities are being committed against anyone in the society. But it should also be kept in mind that both the sides should be put forward and the views of both should come to the fore. Along with this, one should not become a party to any news.
CHJU State Chairman Balwant Takshak said that journalists were the link between the government and the public. A journalist works to raise the voice of the weaker section. Journalists should not lose their identity. The nature of media has also changed with time. Along with print and electronic media, digital media was also making its place. He said that today if any journalist was subjected to atrocities then there was a need to come together and stand up for him. IJU General Secretary Balwinder Singh Jammu said that today journalism was in crisis. He said that the scope of the Press Council should be increased. An act should be made for the safety of journalists.
Press Club Kurukshetra Chairman Rajesh Shandilya said that journalists should also keep an eye on what is happening in the society. If injustice was done to anyone in the society then journalists should support him. Uma Sudha, the outgoing chairperson of Thanesar Municipal Council, arrived as the chief guest in the program. The program was presided over by social worker Sandeep Garg. Surajbhan Kataria, member of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Krishna Kumar Gupta, President of District Bar Association, Nalin Acharya, former President of Chandigarh Press Club also arrived as special guests. Before this, on reaching the program, all the guests were welcomed with flower bunches by the club members under the leadership of Press Club President Rampal Sharma and Ashok Yadav. All the guests of the program were honored by presenting mementos and shawls. On behalf of CHJU, Press Club President Rampal Sharma and Satnam Singh from Shahabad were honored with shawls, certificates and mementos for their remarkable services in the field of journalism.
During this period, free insurance policy of Rs 10 lakh each was distributed by CHJU to 66 journalists. CHJU has already provided free insurance policies to about 200 journalists of Kurukshetra and Fatehabad and would soon distribute free insurance policies to other journalist members of the state.
City Council's outgoing chairperson Uma Sudha, while wishing all the journalists a happy New Year and Lohri festival, said that journalists have an important responsibility towards the society. Journalists should work with positive thinking, so that there is no harm to the society. Social worker Sandeep Garg also wished everyone a happy New Year, Lohri and Makar Sankranti and wished for their bright future. He said that journalists are the mirror of the society. Surajbhan Kataria said that CHJU has done a commendable job by providing free accident insurance of Rs 10 lakh to the journalists. He said that journalists should publish such news which is beneficial for the society because the society trusts the journalists. District Bar Association Principal Advocate KK Gupta said that journalists should work fearlessly and without any pressure. He offered to provide his services free of cost to the journalists of Kurukshetra whenever they require any kind of legal services. At the end of the program Vikas Batan expressed his gratitude to everyone. District Public Information Officer Dr. Narendra Singh also participated in the program.