Shillong, Aug 31: Minister for Cooperation, Labour and Food & Civil Supplies, Methodius Dkhar, on Monday called for stronger partnership between media and administration to improve awareness, counter misinformation and ensure benefits of government schemes reach the last mile.
He was addressing PIB Varta – Media Sensitisation Workshop on Centrally Sponsored Schemes organised by Press Information Bureau, Shillong in association with West Khasi Hills district administration at DC Conference Hall, Nongstoiñ.
The workshop brought together media persons, social media influencers, district officials and grassroots stakeholders.
Dkhar appreciated PIB and district administration for organising the programme and said administration and media have an important role in effective implementation and dissemination of schemes. He urged officials to increase grassroots outreach despite low turnout at awareness programmes.
Highlighting the potential of West Khasi Hills, he said tourism, agriculture, horticulture and sericulture have immense potential due to fertile soil, climate and natural resources. Improved road connectivity would boost agriculture and tourism, he added.
He stressed the need for proper beneficiary identification under schemes like PM-JAY and called upon mainstream media to counter misinformation on social media with verified information.
Deputy Commissioner Hema Nayak said the workshop was aimed at bridging the gap in mainstream media representation of stories from remote villages and bringing grassroots development stories to a wider audience.
Journalist Princess Giri Rashir delivered a technical session on “Regional Journalism and the Last Mile”. She said credible regional journalism is essential for verifying information and examining whether schemes actually reach beneficiaries.
Officials from Agriculture, Horticulture, PWD, PHE, Soil & Water Conservation, Tourism, Fisheries and DRDA shared details of schemes being implemented in the district.
Workshop concluded with interactive discussion on strengthening last-mile communication and improving media visibility for remote areas.
