Chief Minister, Dr.Pramod Sawant today announced the revival of the Pension Scheme for the retired Journalists with a substantial hike in the pension amount. Similarly he assured to enhance the honorarium amount towards Lifetime Achievement Awards to be conferred on veteran journalist in the State. The Chief Minister was speaking at a function organised to commemorate National Press Day by the Department of Information and Publicity in association with Goa Union of Journalist and other Journalist Associations in the State held at Panaji.
Chief Minister, Dr.Sawant in his address stressed upon the importance of journalism for the effective Democratic society. He informed that the Government will come up with a booklet based on work and achievements of Lifetime Achievement Award winning Senior Journalists. The documentation will guide and inspire future journalists to a greater extent, CM added.
CM also assured to resolve the various pending issues and applications pertaining towards welfare of Journalists. He appealed to the Media community to work together for building a better and prosperous society.
On the occasion the Department of Information and Publicity conferred `Dr.T.B.Cunha Lifetime Achievement Award to veteran journalist, Shri. Gurudas Singbal for his selfless and lifelong contribution in the field of Journalism.
Chief Minister Dr.Sawant also presented awards to five eminent senior journalists Shri. Vinayak Naik, Shri.Sudhir Sabnis, Shri.Simon Alponso, Shri. Sergio Caldeira and Shri. Suhas Belkar for their contribution to the profession of journalism.
Eminent Photo Journalist Shri.Prashant Panjiar in his keynote address focused on the importance of photo journalist in contemporary journalism. He said that photojournalist should look for pictures that speak beyond mere information.
Besides Awards for journalists in various categories under Goa State Journalist Awards scheme by Information and Publicity presented to encourage local journalists to exhibit their talents as regards to penning good stories, gain confidence, thus resulting in creating mass awareness in the society.
The Best Editor Award on National Integration and Communal Harmony was presented to Shri Sachin Khutwalkar, Asst Editor, Goan Varta Live for his Editorial “Goa 60 liberation day special”.
The award in Rural Reporting was bagged by Shri Newton Sequeira, of Times of India for his reports ‘More boys than girls reported ‘bad touch’ in Goa’s rural areas. The award for Reporting in Public Health and Hygiene was presented to Shri Newton Sequiera, of Times of India for his report Social factors major reason behind suicide.
The award for Reporting with special reference to Women and Children/ Social issue was awarded to Shri Akshay Lad from In Goa for his report ‘Story of Peter and Rita and the condition they are living in’. Shri Marcus Mergulhao from Times of India, won the award in Sport Reporting for his report ‘Even cancer can’t checkmate his passion for chess’. The award on Reporting on Art and Culture was awarded to Shri Marcus Mergulhao from Times of India for his report ‘As Covid brings the Pordhe down, tiart singers jostle for online space’. The award in PhotoJournalism (Best Photograph of the year) was presented to Shri Rajtilak Naik, Times of India (Goa Edition), for his picture ‘Colour that Binds’.
The award on Reporting on Education was presented to Shri Vishwanath Nene from Prudent for his report ‘online Education’, The award on Reporting on achievement of the Government was given to Smt. Lisa Monteiro from Times of India for his report ‘Elect dept staff trek, use canoe to restore Chorao’s power’
Awards under Goa State Photo Contest and Exhibition Scheme conducted by the Information and Publicity were presented on the occasion. In the category `Cultural tradition in Goa` Shri.Hemant Parab, Shri.Narayan Pissurlekar and Shri.Ganesh Shetkar were awarded the 1st ,2nd and 3rd prize respectively.
Shri. Rohan Fernandes won first prize in the category of `Hinterland Tourism in Goa` Shri.Upendra Naik won second place and Shri.Rajtilak Naik won third prize.
Director, Information and Publicity Shri. Dipak Bandekar welcomed the gathering.
Jt. Secretary, Personal. Smt. Meghana Shetgaonkar, Deputy Collector, Dharbandora Shri.Ramesh Naik along with other officials from Information and Publicity were felicitated for their extraordinary service during COVID pandemic.
Jt. Director Shri. Kedar Naik, Information Officer, Shri. Prakash Naik, Information Officer Shri. Allwyn Pereira and other officials were present on the occasion.
AIO, Shri Shyam Gaonkar compered the function.