Hooda announced Lifetime Achievement Award

Chandigarh, Nov 18 - Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced to institute a Lifetime Achievement Award and announced a bonanza of other incentives for mediapersons whichincluded grant of press accreditation facility at block level. The Chief Minister was interacting with mediapersons shortly afterdedicating a newly set up hi-tech Media Centre, equipped with allmodern facilities, at the 8th floor of Haryana Civil Secretariat, heretoday. Spread over an area of 7000 sq. feet, the Media Centre has beenset up at a cost of about Rs one crore in view of the changingscenario of media. While clarifying the issue of definition of "Journalist" in view ofthe Journalist Welfare Fund set up by the State Government, the ChiefMinister said that now it has been decided that those who arebasically associated with journalism and those whose main source ofincome is journalism, would get financial assistance from JournalistWelfare Fund irrespective of the fact whether they are accredited ornot by the State Government. This decision has been taken for thewelfare of journalists. He said that in case of sudden death of a journalist or any personassociated with journalism, an ex-gratia would be provided to his orher next of kins out of the Journalist Welfare Fund. He also introduced the facility of Press Accreditation tomediapersons at block level by giving Press Accreditation Cards tothree such mediapersons. He also announced that separate PressAccreditation Cell and Press Facility Cell would be set up and thesewould be functional from January next. Mr Hooda said that for the first time, the mediapersons would beprovided with electronic lockers thus giving them one GB space tostore their data. Mr Hooda said that the Press Room set up at the Media Centre was thefirst of its kind in public sector in the country. Equipped with allmodern means of communication, it has seven computers with internetfacility to facilitate the functioning of mediapersons. Two faxmachines have also been provided in the Press Room. In addition, 30physical lockers would be allotted to mediapersons as per their needin the Press Room. The Chief Minister handed over the keys of firstsuch locker to veteran journalist Mr N.S.Parwana. The Press Room has a theater system, wide-screen LCD TV sets equipped with Tata Sky and cable network. A Centrex telephone system has beeninstalled in the Press Room through which any mediaperson can directlyring up any officer of the Haryana Information and Public RelationsDepartment. The Chief Minister said that the work to set up a hi-tech web studiowas in progress at Media Centre and it would be functional within acouple of months. This web studio would provide video clippings onvarious programmes and achievements of the Government to themediapersons. It would also have pre-production and post-productionfacilities like editing. He said that electronic press notes would beissued from January 1 and Haryana would be the first State tointroduce such a system in the country. He said that a Conference Room has also been set up at Media Centrewhere daily briefing system would be introduce to highlight thevarious achievements of the State Government. Also, an InformationCentre equipped with 10 computers, fax and internet facility has alsobeen set up at the Media Centre. He said that a modern pantry has alsobeen set up at Media Centre which would be run by Haryana HospitalityDepartment. While referring to other incentives given by the State Government tomediapersons, the Chief Minister said that with a view to encouragemediapersons of both print and electronic media, the State Governmenthas already instituted 13 State level and 147 district level awards.Such cash awards totaling about Rs 53 lakh would be given tomediapersons every year. There would be two special state awards of Rsone lakh each, 11 state awards of Rs 51,000 each and 147 districtawards of Rs 21,000 each. While referring to the issue of providing Government accommodationfor mediapersons, he said that for allotment of houses, themediapersons would have to pay only that much minimum house rent whichis being paid by Government official for the allotment of a similarhouse. This decision was necessitated because the journalists werepaying differential house rent for the houses alloted to them. Today being the World Epilepsy Day, Mr Hooda announced to give agrant of Rs one lakh each to Haryana Child Welfare Council and"Pryas", an organisation of Chandigarh as these organisations areengaged in the welfare of the deaf, dumb, physically challenged andthose suffering from epilepsy. The Chief Minister appreciated the significant role being played bymediapersons in apprising the people about the developmental andwelfare programmes of the State Government. The Chief Minister was taken around the entire Media Centre and heappreciated the facilities made available there for media persons. The Chief Minister was accompanied by President of Haryana PradeshCongress Committee, Mr Phool Chand Mullana,Chief ParliamentarySecretary, Mr. Dharamvir, MLAs namely Mr Naresh Yadav and Mrs GeetaBukkal, Chief Secretary Mr Dharam Vir, Principal Secretary to ChiefMinister, Mr M.L.Tayal, Commissioner-cum-Director Information andPublic Relations Mr K.K.Khandelwal, Financial Commissioner andPrincipal Secretary, Haryana Public Works (Building and Roads)Department, Mr K.K.Jalan,Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Prof.Virender, Media Adviser to Chief Minister Mr Sunder Pal, Senioroficers of Haryana Public Works (Building and Roads) Department andArchitecture Department.No.IPRDH/2008