SRINAGAR: The tall claims of state information departments regarding the revamping and streamlining the functioning for maintaining smooth process of public relations seems falling flat.
Valley based media fraternity blames that the information department not only deprives them of the deserving advertisements but there is no accountability in issuing the relevant government passes to the accredited journalist.
“I am more than 10 year old accredited photo journalists. It is for the first time in my journalistic career that neither i was provided identity card not the passes to cover the recent parliamentary polls. This is the height of department who render media person to suffer”, said Danish Ismail, a photo journalist of Reuters.
Many other journalists who talked to this correspondent alleged that there is not a single case from the fraternity who has no complaints with the departments. They alleged that the department is run by some blue eyed junior level employees who act as bosses.
They said that the fraternity has raised issues of passes, identity cards, invitations several times with the in-charge officials, but nothing has come at the avail.
Another veteran photo journalist said that despite regular updating of photos and personnel details there is no change done in my identity card. “Since the new joint director has taken over, we are suffering immensely. This is strange that if we submitted details or photos for updating, the official hardly bother to update. They trash the new details.”
On condition of Anonymity a group of journalist also alleged that the recent accreditation meeting which was held in Jammu last year, many fresher scribes were given accreditation as the department didn’t forward the files of deserving ones for ulterior motives.
The irony of the department does not stop here, Editor –In Chief, Aakash Amin Bhat of Kashmir Age, a daily newspaper being published from Srinagar said that since 18 march the newspaper has not received even a single centimeter advertisement. “My newspaper is DAVP approved and also approved in state information. They are depriving me of advertisement which is the source of survival for the organization. Number of employees in my organization are facing the brunt due to lethargic attitude of information department as the organization is not able to pay their salaries now”.
He added that the department is showing since March they have issued 60 centimeter advertisement to the newspaper as per official records. He adds, “It is an irony that we have not received even the said advertisement. The department has turned defunct”.
Many believe that after the transfer of previous joint director Tasaduq Hussain Mir, the department is grungy again. They said that the previous joint director was successful in streaming the department to the greater extent. The alleged that the present joint director has failed on all fronts.
Despite attempts, none of the top brass of the department picks up the phone to comment over the issues.
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