Uluberia, Howrah: February 03, 2023

Press Information Bureau, Kolkata organized Vartalap – the Media Workshop at Rabindra Bhavan, Uluberia in Howrah District of West Bengal today. The media-persons of the district including those from small and medium newspapers participated in large numbers in this programme meant for dissemination of news related to Central Government sponsored welfare schemes and programmes and media-services catered to by Press Information Bureau.

Ms. Jane Namchu, the Additional Director General (M&C), Press Information Bureau , Kolkata addressed the journalists working in Uluberia and surrounding areas to update them about the functions of Press Information Bureau which is to provide them authentic information related to Central Government programmes and policie reaching them through digital media and other means as well. 

Shri Partho Ghosh, Joint Director, PIB, Kolkata, while conducting the event, narrated the role and importance of PIB with the help of power point presentation. He spoke at length about PIB Fact Check and requested the media persons to use the service to verify the authenticity of news relating to the Union Government using PIB mechanism. He also highlighted the Journalist Welfare Scheme and answered the queries of the media persons from the district. 

Shri Arindam Chakraborty, electronic media expert, and Shri Amal Sarkar, print media expert shared their rich professional experiences and stated as to how PIB’s press releases, feature service, photos could be beneficial for the media persons in their quest of making authentic news about Government and the welfare schemes meant for people. They urged the media persons to use information provided by PIB to sensitize common citizens about how they can avail benefits from the Centrally-sponsored schemes. Shri Pulakesh Ghosh ,a veteran journalist spoke on fake news and discussed various means to bust fake news. In this workshop, it was also explained that how PIB press releases, photos, infographics and other media contents can be obtained directly from PIB’s website, Facebook page as well as Twitter handle in Bangla, apart from Hindi, English and other Indian languages. They also highlighted the ethics code for digital media.

Shri Anindya Acharya, Joint Director, National Jute Board and Soumydipto Dutta, Assistant Director, Jute Commissioner Office, Kolkata spoke about various steps and initiatives taken for the development of Jute industry in the district. Shri Dutta mentioned the steps taken for development and marketing of jute diversified products. Schemes such as Jute ICARE, CSAPM, JRCPC, JRMB, JRO, PLI, etc were highlighted by Shri Acharya. under National Jute Development Programme are available. Production Linked Incentives are also being provided to jute exporters to promote it. Details of the schemes are available in NJB website www.jute.com, he said. They further said that for the welfare of jute farmers and artisans' family, NJB is also providing Rs. 5,000 scholarship to class 10th and Rs. 10,000 to class 12th girl students. 

39 district media persons participated in the workshop which became so lively and participative in nature that it was appreciated by most of the media persons present. 

6 veteran journalists from the district were felicitated by PIB on this occasion to honour their contribution for the improvement of journalism in the district. 

*****************

PG/MSA…….