Press Club calls in IPR Secy, seeks enhancement of ad-rates

GANGTOK, 27 May: The executive committee members of the Press Club of Sikkim, led by their president, Paras Mani Dangal, today submitted a memorandum to Information & Public Relations Secretary, KS Tobgay, seeking enhancement of government advertisement rates and increase in the number of display advertisements released by the department.
The PCS team included the working president Amit Patro, general secretary Bhim Rawat, vice president Rajen Pradhan, treasurer Babboo Tamang, assistant treasurer DR Dulal and publicity secretary Bijoy Gurung.
With the memorandum submitted earlier to IPR Minister CB Karki by the PCS, Mr. Tobgay assured the PCS delegation that the government was seized of the matter and assured to look into the demands in a positive manner. He was also briefed about the pending release of Rs. 5 lakh which had been announced by the Chief Minister in 2009 for the journalists’ welfare fund set up by the PCS.

The PCS executive committee also updated the Secretary about advertisement bills pending with various departments for the past few years, a problem faced by almost all the media houses here in Sikkim.
Mr. Tobgay assured the PCS that the Department will be working closely with the media houses on payment of outstanding government advertisement dues and also asked the PCS to submit a proposal for evolving a system for collection of advertisement bills, better coordination with the department for proper dissemination of government achievements and welfare of journalists working in Sikkim.