Community Digital Media groups gets support from Assam Govt's Development Council

 Gorkha Development Council (GDC) distributed laptops to community journalists and meritorious BPL students 

Guwahati: Gorkha Development Council (GDC) a statutory body of the Government Assam created by the Assam Legislative Assembly under the Welfare of the Plain Tribes & Other Backward Castes Department on Thursday here in Guwahati distributed laptops to community journalists and BPL meritorious students who passed recently concluded HSLC and HS examination. GDC also gave away football kits to one hundred sports clubs of the state.

Talking to his correspondent about the distribution program Prem Tamang, chairman of Gorkha Development Council (GDC) said, 'GDC out from its 2020-2021 earmarked 40% procurement budget have distributed 70 laptops and football kits for 100 sports clubs of the state. Latest laptops with editing softwares will surely support our community digital media groups and journalists who have been serving with limited resources over the few years. Laptops for meritorious BPL students too  will of great use for their higher education.'

'Meritorious BPL students from all the districts on the recommendations of All Assam Gorkha Students Union (AAGSU), we have provide laptop to support their higher studies along with subject and state toppers', Tamang added. GDC also distributed football kits that includes boots, jersey, leg guard, footballs, goal keeper gloves, goal nets to 100 sporting clubs of the state. GDC is hopeful that such support will keep the youths of the club fit and healthy so that they can qualify to be a sportspersons or crack Agniveer interview. 

M K Rijal and Pukar Khanal, Editor and Bureau Chief of AG Web TV, Nanda Budhathoki and Rajat Bharadwaj Managing Editor and Editor in Chief of  NE Live 24, Milon Upadhyay of Gorkha Live, Krishna Raj Sangrowla of G News Today and Sanjib Dahal, Editor  of Gorkha Dhwani were the community journalist who recieved laptops for their respective community digital media houses. 'These digital media platforms have been frontliners in disseminating information of the community in public domain in our mother tongue Gorkha Bhasa and ourbstate language Assamese since the advent of digital media. One way they are progpgating and preserving our language which also the responsibility of the GDC so we decided to support those media platforms which are in active service for more than 2 years with digital media technologies begining with laptop and editing tools', said Ram Dahal, Deputy Chairman, GDC.

Bogiram Gorkha Bhandari, Gorkha Bhasa author speaking to his correspondent said, ' Distribution of laptops with editing tools to digital media houses is a welcome move but when will GDC support our mainstream community journalist who have been community's voice even before GDC was formed. GDC should honour journalist along with laptop who contributed to creation of GDC reporting about the Gorkha Autonomous Council (GAC) demand of AAGSU and GACDC when digital media hardly existed.'

On the issue of the funds from NEC being reduced Chetry said, 'It seems the amount sanctioned almost ₹ 2 Crore per year i.e 2010 to 2021-22, it may also  be said that it was so especially during the previous Congress govt in Assam since the Sarbananda Sonowal government didn't allocate any major funds for development councils created by Congress government in his tenure  The same amount has been reduced to ₹ 1 crore only by the BJP Govt in  2022-23 FY.'

Gorkha Development Council (GDC) was formed in 2010 under the Chief Ministership of Late Tarun Gogoi lead Congress government and is one of 33 community development councils of Assam. It has since 2010 given utilisation certificate of 23.95 crores of funds and North Eastern Council (NEC) has earmarked 1 crore find for 2022-23 session, a statement issued by Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister G Kisan Reddy on the floor of the Parliament in written reply to the question of TMC Raja Sabha MP Shanta Chhetri. Meanwhile the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressing the 27th Trinnenial General Confrence and 80th Foundation Day of Assam Gorkha Sammelan at Nikashi in Tamulpur BTR in May had announced that Goverment of Assam will grant one time financial grant of Rs.25 crores to the Gorkha Development Council (GDC).