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Pre-Budget discussions: Finance Minister assures redressal of print media grievances

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 2/8/2013 3:48:39 PM

SRINAGAR, Feb 7: The Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather today said, newspapers being an important link between Government and the people, all the possible steps will be taken to remove their hardships and problems.
Speaking to the representatives of print media working in the Kashmir division (both local and national newspapers) in connection with ongoing Pre-Budget discussions, Rather said that the Government is committed for freedom of press besides providing congenial working atmosphere to it. He assured the media representatives that their genuine demands with regard to rationalization of advertisement grants would be considered appropriately and all their genuine grievances would be redressed with a positive mind set.
The media representatives also presented their memorandum of demands which include classification of newspapers, enhancement of the budgetary allocations for the print media industry in Kashmir, enhancement of advertisement tariff for newspapers as the running cost has gone up manifolds and to make it at par with Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.
They also demanded introduction of e-payment to the newspapers on the pattern of DAVP. They suggested formulation of a liaison committee comprising officials from the Government and representatives of print media to resolve issues from time to time.