6th.Anniversary of Gtv Bharat Odia held at Rayagada: Journalists are prime vehicles to social reforms
Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, June 27: 6th anniversary of Gtv Bharat Odia, an active and 1st web channel from Rayagada soil, was celebrated at Hotel Tejaswi International Conference Hall. Joining as Chief Guest on the occasion, local MLA Makarand Muduli deliberated the might of the pen than the sword in the context of fourth pillar of democracy. He cherished the roles played by the journalists in bringing the starvation deaths of Kashipur to the fore. This resulted the visit of the then Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and initiation of multi-crores project from International Fund for Agriculture Development(IFAD).
He lamented that even after 75 years of independence, farmers’ suicide was rising, especially in Maharashtra. Media, as a prime vehicle, carried this episode to have several policy changes. He described the plights of working journalists, especially those from rural hinterland and assured to take up the issue of Act relating to Journalists’ protection in the coming assembly session. If natural justice is meted out to the journalists, then only it will pave way for several social reforms.
Senior scribe Rabi Rath, Editor of Naveen News Paper attending as chief speaker, highlighted several issues of journalists. He expressed his concern about paid news by media houses under the patronage of corporate and mainstream political parties. There is seldom any action after the news get published in news papers. So, the role of small & medium media including social media has become very important. This has been proved in cases of farmers’ protest in Punjab & Delhi and women wrestlers’ month long protest in national capital. In the present context Bureaucracy overpowering the policy makers has posed grave danger to the democracy. Slogans have taken precedence over work & commitment.
Dr.Badal Kumar Tah joined the occasion as a special guest and opined to media persons to refrain from competing with each other on the plea of publishing fast news. One should take a pause, think, reflect and finally publish unbiased news even if it is bit stale. In Odia culture stale rice with water or commonly known as “Pakhala” has been very favourite and proved to boost immunity even during Covid-19. After publishing issue & rights & entitlements based news, the expectations of poorest of the poor are rising and they have high hopes on us. So, we need to go beyond just publishing the news and facilitate a process of bridging the gaps between the affected persons, communities and the policy makers. A little activism will take the issues to their logical conclusion with the help of some sensitive govt officers & people’s representatives.
According to ADM Sri Somanath Pradhan, there is lack of coordination among the four pillars of democracy. The working journalists, who are working in very difficult situations, must set their priority in case of their own health & well being of their own family members. Go on trying on a sustained basis & you will certainly win. Truth always wins; but unlovable truth hurts. So, there is a choice before the journalists to take care of their word play.
The meeting was chaired by Ramdas Lima, Editor-in-Chief of Gtv. Abinash Mishra, Editor of News Orisha Today, said that Gtv should give more prominence to the news of the KBK region and emphasize upon people’s problems.
On this occasion, various individuals were felicitated for their remarkable achievements in various fields. Among them, Govind Prasad Rath, educationist, Mrs Hina Beig, Dr. Bijay Kumar Chowdhury, Janmejay Swain, Appalswami Kadraka, Bidulata Huika were felicitated by the guests. Deepak Kumar Prusty, Managing Editor Gtv India, who was behind the scene in organising this mega event, offered vote of thanks.
