PCS foundation day celebrated

Bhim Rawat receives Kanchenjunga Kalam Puraskar
GANGTOK, : Veteran journalist Bhim Rawat was awarded the 16th Kanchenjunga Kalam Puraskar 2022 today during the 20th foundation day ceremony of Press Club of Sikkim (PCS) at Manan Kendra here.
Similarly, Laganshil Yuva Patrakar Puraskar 2022 was presented to Sujal Pradhan. The PCS also felicitated veteran journalist Suk Bir Blone and the founding members of club.
The awards were handed over Chief Minster P.S. Golay in the presence of IPR minister and guest of honour Lok Nath Sharma, Cabinet ministers, MLAs, dignitaries and journalists from Sikkim, Nepal, Assam and West Bengal.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also announced a new journalism award on behalf of State government. ‘Teesta-Rangeet Abiral Kalam Puraskar’ carrying a cash award of Rs. 101,000 will be presented annually during the PCS foundation day starting next year. A notification in this regard will be issued soon, the Chief Minister said.
Chief Minister Golay congratulated the members of the PCS and journalists of Sikkim for completing 20 years of its foundation and thanked the founding members for establishing Press Club of Sikkim for journalists in Sikkim.
In his address, the Chief Minister stated that since the SKM government came to power, the media organisations are not under any political pressure. “Since the SKM party came to power, there has been a complete freedom of speech for the fourth estate. During the previous government’s rule, various media houses were attacked. None of the culprits were convicted when the office of Hamro Prajashakti was vandalised because it was the ruling party that staged the attack. Our government has never asked media houses to write only in favour of SKM government because we know that if there is no freedom of press, there will be no democracy in Sikkim. The State government also welcomes criticism so that the errors can be rectified. We have set you free to work on your own and we are trying to fulfil all the demands placed by the media in Sikkim. We are here to support the fourth estate,” expressed Golay.
In regard to the demands placed by PCS during the recent meeting at Mintokgang, the Chief Minister informed that the demands have been forwarded to the concerned departments.
Regarding pension for journalists, Golay urged Press Club and IPR department to formulate eligibility criteria to ensure that only the deserving journalists get pension.  
Regarding the health insurance for journalists, Golay informed that the State government is planning to collaborate with Central Referral Hospital (CRH), Tadong for the same.
Golay also informed that a budget of Rs. 20 lakh has been set aside in IPR department for study tour of the journalists. Ten journalists will be sent for the tour every year.
He announced Rs. 10 lakh as a government support against Rs. 14 lakh incurred on renovation of the PCS Bhawan.
He also suggested amendment in advertisement policy to support media houses that are on the verge of shutting down.
IPR minister Lok Nath Sharma expressed that the State government has been supporting the media personnel in Sikkim and will listen to all the demands.
In his acceptance speech, Bhim Rawat, a three-time president and founding member of PCS, said the press club was founded two decades ago with the sole aim of raising voice for the rights and welfare of the journalists in Sikkim. He urged the upcoming journalists to be responsible and not just run after viewership.
Sujal Pradhan expressed happiness on receiving the award and thanked PCS for shortlisting him for the honour.
PCS president Shekhar Khawas, in his welcome address, informed that PCS was established in 2002 by a group of like-minded journalists who understood the value of the fourth pillar of the society.
On the occasion, the official press sticker was also launched from the hands of the Chief Minister. The special sticker with PCS logo on it was introduced to curb misuse of the press stickers.  
The second edition of ‘Samvahak’, a tri-lingual magazine published by Press Club, was also released. The first edition was published 10 years ago.
Krishna Anant, head, History department, Sikkim University, was the resource person.
The event also saw members of Press Club present cultural performances.