Agartala, Sept 26: Journalists are the ‘watchdogs of society’, the fourth pillar of democracy and a mirror of society, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said on Saturday, stressing that social service initiatives such as blood donation by members of the media fraternity can inspire society in a positive direction.

The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating a mega blood donation camp and a health check-up camp for senior citizens organised by the Assembly of Journalists at MTB Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Agartala.

Dr. Saha said there could be few services nobler than donating blood. The spirit that “people are there for people” is reflected through voluntary blood donation, he said, adding that such initiatives must continue so that no patient suffers due to a shortage of blood.

He also emphasized the need to create greater awareness about blood donation so that more people come forward voluntarily.

The state has already established 14 blood banks, he said. The Chief Minister also said the present state government was “media-friendly and journalist-friendly” and had increased the family pension for journalists from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 per month.

He added that steps would also be taken to bring journalists under the Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana to strengthen their access to healthcare.

According to Dr. Saha, the government is also organizing workshops aimed at enhancing the professional skills of journalists, while efforts are continuing to address various issues faced by the media fraternity.

The Chief Minister urged journalists to keep themselves updated with technological and professional developments and continuously strive to improve the quality of their work. He said the media should highlight welfare-oriented initiatives and development activities for the benefit of the people.

Dr. Saha said journalists from Tripura were in no way behind their counterparts in other states and called upon them to discharge their professional responsibilities with transparency and integrity. He also congratulated the Assembly of Journalists for organizing the blood donation and health check-up camps.

Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumder, who attended the programme as a special guest, praised the initiative and said the media should highlight shortcomings and lapses in government functioning, while also appreciating positive initiatives undertaken by the state government.

As part of the programme, the media body donated five wheelchairs for GBP hospital. Information and Cultural Affairs Department Secretary Kiran Gitte and Director Bimbisar Bhattacharya were present as guests of honour.

The Chief Minister and other dignitaries also visited the blood donation and senior citizens’ health check-up camps and interacted with blood donors and elderly participants.