Srinagar, Feb 7: Maintaining that newspapers were an important link between government and the people, Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather today said that 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, an official statement said.
 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.
 Editors Guild was represented by Editor Daily Afaq, Ghulam Jeelani Qadri and Editor Chattan, Tahir Mohi-ud-Din, while as representatives of National newspapers included Abdul Qayoom of Indian Express, Javid Ahmad Dar of Amar Ujala, Masoor Ahmad Wani of Business Standard, Muhammad Hanief of Hindustan Times and Junaid Manzoor of Times of India.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST