Silchar | Assam Minister Kaushik Rai has taken up the long-pending issue of journalists’ accreditation cards in Cachar, directing officials to ensure that eligible media professionals are not denied government recognition and associated facilities due to documentation gaps or administrative complications.

 Rai raised the issue at a programme organised by the Cachar district administration at the new conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Friday. The event also witnessed the distribution of Diwali gifts on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to 90 accredited journalists of the district. Each journalist received an induction cooktop as a festive gift.

Addressing the gathering, Rai said the Chief Minister’s gesture of recognising and appreciating the contribution of journalists was not new. Last year, journalists were presented with mobile phones, while this year induction cooktops had been sent as Diwali and Kali Puja gifts. He thanked the Chief Minister on behalf of the journalist community for the initiative.

 However, the minister placed particular emphasis on the difficulties faced by journalists in obtaining accreditation cards issued through the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) and its district-level mechanisms.

 He pointed out that several eligible journalists, including senior media professionals, were facing difficulties because of incomplete documentation or discrepancies in official records. As a result, some were reportedly unable to access important government programmes and VIP events or avail themselves of facilities meant for accredited journalists.

 To address the issue, Rai directed officials of the Barak Valley Zone of the Information and Public Relations Department to prepare a comprehensive list of journalists working in Cachar, particularly those who have been waiting for accreditation cards for a long time.

He asked the officials to examine their applications and verify their eligibility before preparing the list. The verified document is to be submitted to the district administration through the Deputy Commissioner so that it can be forwarded to the higher authorities of DIPR for necessary action.

 Rai said an updated and verified database of journalists would also help improve coordination between the administration and the media during government programmes, election-related activities and vote counting. He stressed that genuine journalists should not face unnecessary obstacles while performing their professional duties.

 Earlier, Cachar Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Gupta conveyed the Chief Minister’s Diwali greetings to the journalists. Describing the media as an indispensable pillar of democracy, he said the responsibility of journalists extended beyond reporting events. They also played an important role in bringing public grievances, demands and issues of public interest to the attention of the administration.

Gupta said the relationship between the administration and the media should be based on mutual trust, transparency and cooperation. While the administration was responsible for delivering public services and implementing development initiatives, the media served as an important link between the government and the people. He also appreciated journalists in Cachar for carrying out their responsibilities despite challenging circumstances.

 Silchar MP Parimal Suklabaidya said the significance of the Chief Minister’s gifts lay not in their monetary value but in the affection and recognition behind the gesture. Comparing Assam to a large family, he said the initiative reflected the spirit of sharing festive happiness with people from different sections of society.

 Rajya Sabha MP Kanad Purkayastha also appreciated the initiative, observing that the respect and affection associated with the gifts were more important than their material value. Journalists, he said, played a vital role in keeping society informed, highlighting public-interest issues and promoting awareness. Recognising their contribution was also a responsibility of the government and elected representatives.

 Silchar Municipal Corporation Mayor Amarendra Paul, Deputy Mayor Bijendra Prasad Singh and Additional Deputy Commissioner Jagriti Kalwar were among those present.

 Assistant Commissioner Jagriti Kalwar informed the gathering that 90 journalists had been included in the list for distribution of the gifts. Sajjadu l Haque Chowdhury, the officer in charge of DIPR activities in the Barak Valley Zone, distributed the induction cooktops.

Speaking on behalf of the journalist community, Silchar Press Club secretary Shankar Dey thanked Rai for taking up the accreditation issue. He urged the DIPR authorities to expedite the scrutiny of pending applications and issue accreditation cards to eligible journalists without further delay.

 Representatives of various newspapers, news organisations and electronic media attended the programme. The information was shared through a press release issued by the Regional Information and Public Relations Office of the Barak Valley Zone.