On the first Sunday of 2021, media fraternity of Tripura witnessed a unique gesture from Purvaudaya, an NGO. In a simple and interactive programme, Purvaudaya felicitated media persons – frontline warriors during Covid19 menace – for their relentless efforts to reach people with news and information.
Notably, Purvaudaya is an organization that focuses on Woman empowerment through different types of activities in Agriculture, Tourism etc, said Assistant general secretary and eminent journalist Manas Pal in his welcome speech in today’s programme. He also mentioned that Purvaudaya which was set up in July 23, 2019 had felicitated medical personnel as frontline Covid warriors.
In the programme, Purvaudaya also specially felicitated the media persons who had fallen prey to corona while discharging their duties. At least 18 media persons battled out Corona successfully while another one succumbed.
In the programme, the affected journalists shared their experience with the deadly contagion that had claimed millions of lives so far.
Purvaudaya General Secretary Niti Deb while addressing the function said, “The Purvaudaya wants to hear from the frontline warriors who have seen the virus from close. Being a Covid survivor, I realized as to what each and every family had passed through during a medical emergency”.
Hailing the role of the media in building a healthy society, she said, “The journalists are the people who bring the thoughts of leaders, social workers and even terrorists to keep people aware and well informed. They have to share relationships with everyone and there is nothing wrong in that. But, my understanding regarding Tripura is that it requires development and not judging everything through the glasses of politics, we should stand beside development and expose everything that comes in the way to prevent it”.
Veteran editor Sanjib Deb and senior journalist who is also the secretary of Agartala Press Club Pranab Sarkar delivered speeches.
During his speech, Sanjib Deb stressed on the importance of being recognized for the regular works the journalists do. “Work of a scribe is not like some other daily job. Without thinking of any recognition, the journalists do their part to bring name and fame for others. “
At this juncture, Deb who is also a Covid survivor, said Puruvaya’s initiative of felicitating the media warriors assumes significance.
Senior Journalist and Agartala Press Club secretary Pranab Sarkar said as to how the media fraternity despite being unknown to the precautions required to battle the disease successfully passed a tough time with help from the Agartala Press Club.
Among the Covid survivors, senior journalist, Dibakar Debnath raised a vital point regarding the medical awareness among the people and said that organizations like Purvaudaya must come forward to train people with basic medical knowledge so that the families can have the basic idea as to how they could save themselves from serious medical situations with firsthand knowledge.
Another Covid survivor journalist Jakir Hossain also spoke on the occasion. Meanwhile, not less than 70 to 80 journalists and photojournalists, who came from different parts of the State – had been felicitated on the occasion and a good number of scribes could not make it due to some personal engagements.
