From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 24: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday underscored the need for everybody in public life, not just those in media, to adhere to social responsibility to bring about pro-people change.

Addressing the Press Day and a Symposium on Social Responsibility jointly organised by the Press Club of Bengaluru and Karnataka Working Journalists Association, he said the media must focus on giving voice to the voiceless and take it as their responsibility as journalists.

He said he will always strive to bring those deprived of opportunities and the voiceless sections to the mainstream.

Father of the nation Mahatama Gandhi as well as the architect of Indian constitution Dr B R Ambedkar had served as journalists and have become role models, he said.

The Chief Minister felt that most of the media persons need to self-introspect and decode whether they follow the aims and aspirations of journalism.

It is unfortunate that 25% of our population is still deprived of education. The economic disparities are continuing and most of the people belonging to the weaker sections and Dalits as well as the middle classes are struggling with economic and social inequalities as well as discrimination, he said emphasizing the need for socio-economic freedom to the vast majority. Without economic freedom, administrative and political freedom will be meaningless and the people suffering due to inequalities and discrimination may rise in revolt as warned by Dr Ambedkar, he said.

Siddaramaiah deplored the mindset of the people, who are dead against the implementation of Anna Bhagya, even though the toiling classes and poor are hungry and termed such a mindset anti-social.

He said the Congress government’s guarantees were pro-people and welfare oriented. It is the responsibility and duty of the media to ensure that such welfare measures reach the needy. He said condemning the BJP and its supporters for opposing such schemes.

Senior journalist Dr A Poornima spoke on social responsibility of the media with Chief Minister’s media advisor K V Prabhakar, Eee-Dina Media chief D Umapathy, Suvarna News Chief Editor Ravi Hegde and Information Department Commissioner Dr Hemanth M Nimbalkar participated. Senior journalist and former MLC P Ramaiah presided.