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Himachal Pradesh News |
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Himachal Pradesh News |
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CM presides over the
Patrakar Samman Samaroh
Chief Minister, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that every section of the society including Media was passing through a crises of credibility and added that the need of the hour was to re-establish the eroded values for sustaining the healthy society. He was speaking on the occasion of Patrakar Samman Samaroh organised by Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Shimla to mark the Devrishi Narad Jayanti here today. Referring to the role played by the newspapers in Freedom Movement, Prof. Dhumal said that it was the strength of journalism that inculcated the spirit of patriotism and nationalism amongst the Indian which ultimately resulted in getting freedom. Chief Minister also expressed concern over the growing commercialization of the media and selling space for promoting the views of particular individual organization. He said if this trend was not stopped this would prove detrimental for the country and the society as a whole. Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that to promote the developmental journalism the State Government had constituted Awards for development Journalism. He said that National Award carries cash prize of Rs. 50,000, State Award Rs. 40,000 and District Award Rs, 25,000. He said that from this year the State Government had constituted Award for Electronic Media. The Best Story on National TV Network would get a cash prize of Rs. 40,000. Those who were honoured with Devrishi Narad Samman are Shri P.N. Sharma, a Veteran journalist, Smt. Archana Phull, Bureau Chief of Hindustan Times, Shri Shishu Sharma Shantal, Correspondent, Doordarshan Kendra, Shimla; Shri Munish Banyal of Dainik Bhaskar and Shri Anil Dayal a free lance photo Journalist. Chief Minister also honoured some writers and contributors for newspapers. Chief Minister lauded the Vishwa Samwad Kendra for organising the Samman Samaroh for Journalists. Prof. Brij Kishore Kuthiala, Vice-Chancellor Makhan Lal Chaturvedi University of Journalism and Mass Communication, Bhopal, delivered his keynote address. He said that journalism needed to help in achieving of National interest objectives of eradicating social vices and servings the human beings in a true spirit. He said that journalists were opinion makers and could mould the public attitude. He said that journalism took an important turn in eighties when it got commercialized. Prof. Kuthiala said that instead of quality, quantity was being preferred in the media, which was a matter of concern for all of us. He said that media needs to adhere to ethics and values for the betterment of the society, which was the ultimate goal of journalism. He said that Devrishi Narad was a strong communicator or could he be called as first journalist, who symbolized an awakened and enlightened social reformer. He said that Devrishi Narad had to be a role model for Indian Journalism. Shri Ashok Malik, former Assistant News Editor of Dainik Tribune delivered his presidential address. Shri Narender Sharma, State Pracharak Head, welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries and said that it was a maiden attempt of the Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Shimla to honour journalists this year and only journalist at Shimla Headquarter had been considered. From next year their endeavour would be to extend it to other parts of the State. He said that the purpose of honouring journalists was to re-establish the values for which journalism was known Smt. Bimla Kashyap, MP Rajya Sabha, Dr. Daya Nand Sharma, Editor, Matribhoomi, Shri Kamal Sen, President, Vishva Samvad Kendra, Dr. M.P. Sood, Secretary, HPSEB, prominent Journalists, Senior Officers and prominent people of the town were present on the occasion. Sports Tourism getting Boost Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, reiterated resolve of the State Government to give added priority to the sports tourism wherein Golf had been playing pivotal role. He was addressing the prize distribution ceremony of one-day Carlsberg Golf Tournament at universally known Naldehra Golf Course near Shimla today. Chief Minister said that the State Government was strengthening the sports infrastructural facilities at all level, which had been supplementing tourism promotion activities in the State. He said that Naldehra Golf Course had been one of the oldest and best located Golf Course in the country, which had attracted golfers of par eminence in the world. He said that location of the Course was one of the major attractions since it was located in close vicinity to the dense forests. He said that it was heartening to know that young and budding golfers were coming forward and winning prizes inspiring others to excel in their game to win prizes at national and international level. Prof. Dhumal complimented the winners of different events organized during the tournament and wished them all success in their future endeavours. He also commended the sponsorship of Carlsberg for playing host to the tournament for second year consecutively. He hoped that regular events would continue to be held at Naldehra thereby adding to the sports tourism promotion activities near to capital town. He wished that more such tournaments would be organized at Naldehra for which the infrastructural facilities were being upgraded. Shri Surender Attri, Director, Carlsberg India, welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries and said that the event had been very successful since record number of participants had participated in the event. Maj. Gen. Rajesh Kochhar, Shri H.N. Kashyap and Shri Anil Kimta, Senior BJP leaders, Smt. Manisha Nanda, Principal Secretary Tourism, Shri J.S. Rana, DC, Shri R.M. Sharma, SP and other senior officers were present besides golfers drawn from different walks of life to witness the prize distribution function. World No Tobacco Day World No Tobacco Day is observed the world over on 31st May every year to make people aware of the health problems caused by tobacco abuse. The Day is aimed at exhorting smokers to give up smoking. Each year World No Tobacco Day focuses on a specific theme and the theme for World No Tobacco Day 2010 is 'Gender and Tobacco with an Emphasis on Marketing to Women’. The H.P. Prohibition of Smoking and non-smoker’s Health Protection Act 1997 is being implemented in Himachal Pradesh under which smoking is prohibited in public places and all advertisements showing tobacco products is banned in the State. An aggressive social awareness campaign is also being organised with the combined efforts of Government, general public alongwith active participation of panchayats, mahila and yuvak mandals, students and NGOs to root out the menace of intoxicants from the society. Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi said that healthy society leads to overall development of the nation and evils like intoxication and drug abuse need to be totally eradicated. 'Nasha Nivaran campaign' being implemented by Information and Public Relations Department has been instrumental in creating awareness amongst the masses. World No Tobacco Day has been observed each year since 1989. People, governments and NGO's unite on World No Tobacco Day to draw attention to the health problems that tobacco use can cause. On May 15, 1987, the World Health Organization passed resolution, calling for April 7, 1988, to be the first World No Smoking Day. This date was chosen because it was the 50th anniversary of the World Health Organization. On May 17, 1989, the World Health Organization passed a resolution calling for May 31 to be annually known as World No Tobacco Day. According to World Health Organization, global smoking rates are rising as the tobacco industry increasingly targets females through its campaigns. ..2.. The State Government is taking many stringent steps and conducts a number of sensitization workshops and awareness campaigns to do away with tobacco products. Direct and indirect publicity of tobacco products attract penal fines up to Rs 5000, which can extend to imprisonment from 2 to 5 years. Sale of tobacco products to minors is forbidden, as was its sale within a radius of 100 yards from any educational institution. Printing of statutory warning on tobacco products has been made mandatory, failing which a fine ranging between Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 10,000 is imposed with imprisonment from one to five years. The State Government has constituted a state level coordination and monitoring committee and district level committees to monitor the ban on smoking in public places. World No Tobacco Day aims to aware individuals, parents and concerned groups by informing them about the harmful effects of the tobacco. Adults could set an example for the youth by setting a goal for a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, there are still some adult smokers who aren't deterred even by lung cancer or mouth and their smoking habit continues unabated. The parents should educate their children about the ill effects tobacco abuse entails. Let us pledge on this day not to smoke and persuade others to quit this fatal habit so that a healthy and drug free society could be materialized. |
