Government Takes Serious Steps to Address Newspaper Industry Issues

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Directs Authorities to Resolve Press Concerns

New Delhi: Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Railways, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has instructed the Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) and the Director General of the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) to take necessary steps to resolve the challenges faced by newspapers across the country. The directive came after a delegation from the All India Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association met the minister on Tuesday to highlight the ongoing difficulties in the newspaper industry.

The delegation was led by the association’s convener and senior editor Kamal Kishore and included several key members such as Ashok Kumar, Shri Ram Ambashtha, Ved Prakash, Himanshu Shekhar, Madhukar Singh, Nityanand Shukla, Devan Rai, Digvijay Singh, Sanjay Poddar, Saket Kumar, Kaustubh Kishore, Mohd Kabir, Shami Ahmed, Faiz Akram, and Khurshid Ahmed. The meeting, held at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi, aimed to present the issues faced by newspapers and request strong governmental intervention.

// BUY IN INDIA"// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //BUY IN USA //

दिए गए लिंक पर क्लिक करें और Amazon पर ऑनलाइन करें खरीद

Amazon: दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा ऑनलाइन शॉपिंग प्लेटफॉर्म, जहां आपको बेहतरीन डील्स और विश्वसनीय प्रोडक्ट्स मिलते

Minister Acknowledges the Issues and Assures Action

During the discussion, the delegation elaborated on the difficulties encountered by newspapers, particularly small and medium-sized publications. Minister Vaishnaw took serious note of these concerns and assured immediate relief. He directed officials to temporarily halt the complex provisions of the PRGI Act 2023, which had created operational challenges for many newspapers.

The minister emphasized the importance of free and independent journalism in India’s democracy and recognized the vital role of regional and small-scale newspapers. He assured the delegation that the government is actively reviewing the PRGI Act 2023 and that necessary amendments will be made soon. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth operating environment for newspapers and promised full support for their growth and sustainability.

ALSO READ बिहार आर्ट थियेटर के पूर्व सचिव व वरिष्ठ रंगकर्मी स्व अजीत गांगुली के जयंती पर श्रद्धांजलि एवं कंबल वितरण

Meetings with Registrar of Newspapers and CBC Director General

Following their interaction with the minister, the delegation also met Bhupendra Kainthola, Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI), and Y.K. Bawaja, Director General of the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC). During the discussion, publishers detailed the impact of recent regulations on their operations.

The one-and-a-half-hour-long meeting resulted in assurances from Kainthola that necessary amendments to the PRGI Act would be introduced. He also stated that the newspaper circulation verification period would be extended, allowing newspapers more time to comply with regulations.

Hope for Financial Relief

The CBC Director General also assured the publishers that the government is considering extending the validity of CBC’s rate card, which determines advertising rates for newspapers. This move aims to help newspapers recover from financial difficulties caused by the new regulatory challenges. The delegation also submitted a memorandum detailing their demands and concerns to the ministry and relevant officials.

The Crisis Facing Newspapers and the Association’s Role

The implementation of the PRGI Act 2023 has created a survival crisis for many small and medium-sized newspapers, as its complex provisions have made operations difficult. In response to these challenges, the All India Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association was formed to advocate for newspaper publishers’ interests.

The association’s first meeting was held in Ranchi, where it was decided that representatives from various states would directly engage with central ministers to address their concerns. This recent meeting marks a significant step in securing government intervention to ensure the sustainability of print journalism in India.

This version maintains the essence of the original Hindi article while making it structured, concise, and easy to understand in English. Let me know if you need any further refinements!

ALSO READ Major Update on Patna Metro: Operations to Begin in November

Author
Recent Posts

patnaites.com

From the Desk at Patnaites.com

Established in 2008, Patnaites.com was founded with a mission to keep Patnaites (the people of Patna) well-informed about the city and globe.

At Patnaites.com, we cater Hyperlocal Coverage to
Global and viral news and views.ensuring that you are up-to-date with everything from sports events to campus activities, stage performances, dance and drama shows, exhibitions, and the rich cultural tapestry that makes Patna unique.

Patnaites.com brings you news from around the globe, including global events, tech developments, lifestyle insights, and entertainment news.