PNI Correspondent
Mangaldai : The convention of Darrang and Udalguri district journalists organized by the North Assam chapter of Journalists Association of Assam (JAA)at the conference hall of the Orang National Park on Sunday has passed resolution demanding the government to introduce a Journalists Protection Act in the current winter session of the Assam state assembly. The journalists meet while expressing grave concern over the growing cases of attack on working journalists in the country as well as in the state in its resolution appealed to all the MLAs of the assembly cutting the barriers of political parties and their ideology to come forward and do the needful for the approval of the house . The meet also condemned the failure of the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP Government in identifying the all the guilt persons involved in the brutal murder of journalists Parag Bhuyan and award punishment to them and demanded the inquiry report of the case to make it public at the earliest. Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Bhupen Goswami, a senior journalist and a vice president of National Union of Journalists (India) ,NUJ (I) said , ‘ Our journalists body has been demanding for an act to safeguard the journalists on duty for long.
Each time the government gave us assurance but in reality it doesn’t come into action.” Hailing the services of the rural journalists of the state including Darrang and Udalguri amidst various financial and social challenges chief guest Goswami in his speech mooted for formation of a journalist council and release of fellowship from both the government and the corporate sectors in yearly basis in the best interest of quality assessment of the rural journalists and thus help exploring many hidden truths. The meet chaired by journalist Mayukh Goswami discussed several issues relevant for present media including the adverse financial impact on the media houses, mounting challenges faced by the mainstream print and electronic media from social media platforms, role of media in sensitizing the masses particularly younger generation in conservation of forest and wildlife and road safety measures among others. Earlier the day long meet was inaugurated by journalist cum folk artiste Bapon Sarma while Narayan Deka explained its objectives. Srawan Kumar Jha, President Kharupetia Press Club and Safikur Rahman, forest official also attended it as the invited guests. Later an executive body of undivided Darrang district (Darrang and Udalguri) of JAA was formed with Mayukh Goswami as its president, Kumar Dharmendra Narayan Deb as a vice president, Srawan Kumar Jha and Narayan Deka as joint general secretaries and Lokeswar Nath as the treasurer.
