From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jan 4: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that providing health card, bus pass and other facilities for rural journalists would get priority in the State’s forthccoming budget.
“Though small newspapers have limited circulation, the news and articles they carry are high in value,’’ he said in his inaugural address to the 36th State level conference of the Karnataka Union of Working Journalists in Kalaburgi.
He said Kalyana Karnataka Development Board would be constituted within a week and Rs 3000 crore action plan for development of the region would be implemented within a year.
The Chief Minister in his address said news publication sector is facing many challenges. It is retaining public conscience and priorities amidst privatisation, globalisation, liberalisation and market driven business system.
Action would be taken to provide necessary advertisements for rural newspapers, health cards, bus pass and other facilities for rural journalists in the next budget, he said.
The action plan for the development of Kalyana Karnataka region would be finalised within a month after holding a meeting with legislators of this region. The funds would be provided and it would be implemented within a year, Bommai said.
Recalling the role of print media in the freedom movement, Bommai said it played a key role in inspiring patriotism among the masses. Indian journalism has retained its identity even amid the influence of western journalism.
He appreciated the functioning of journalists during the Covid pandemic which claimed the lives of many journalists.
"The State Government has paid a solatium of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives. We will reach out to the families which are yet to receive it," he said.
Large and Medium Industries minister Murugesh Nirani inaugurated the Photo exhibition, while opposition Congress chief whip in the Council Dr Ajay Singh inaugurated an exhibition, with Lok Sabha member Dr Umesh Yadav declaring open the Cartoon Exhibition. Kalyana Karnataka Development Board Chairman Dattatreya Pail Revoor released the KUWJ calendar for the year 2022.