Press Information Bureau (PIB), Srinagar, Government of India, today organised a day long workshop, VARTALAP, an interactive session for print and electronic media persons of district Bandipora and Ganderbal.The objective of workshop is capacity building of rural journalists to develop a smooth information flow system between PIB and Journalists of rural areas and to obtain valuable feedback from these journalists on various matters.The workshop was inaugurated by District Development Commissioner (DDC), Bandipora, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary in presence of Deputy Director PIB GhulamAbaas.In his address, the DDCsaid that media is a powerful tool which works as torchbearer for the administration to look into the loopholes in the society. He said that it a best tool for outreaching, information exchange and downward communication, which helps out in better public delivery system.The DDC also shared his experience for being Director Information for some time and asked media persons to provide due space for coverage of State as well as Centrally sponsored schemes meant for welfare of the people.
The DDC said that media persons are working in tough and hard situation especially in rural areas and needs encouragement at every level. He said district administration is contemplating to construct a press club at Bandipora district headquarter to provide the platform for active journalists to work professionally.The DDC congratulated PIB Srinagar for holding interactive media workshop at Bandipora and hoped that such workshop may be conducted in future also.Abass said that the workshop is an offshoot of PIB's media outreach strategy to disseminate information to the targeted beneficiaries of government's development schemes focusing on flagship programme of Government of India.On the occasion various media professionals and other departmental experts delivered lectures and shared valuable experience. District Social Welfare Officer, Altaf Hussain gave the detail information regarding social welfare schemes.Later, a question answer session was also held in which experts answered the quries of the journalists.