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Dimapur, March 18 (EMN): Nagaland chief secretary, J Alam, has directed the state government departments to clear all pending bills to the media houses at the earliest to ensure smooth functioning and cordial relationship between the government and the media.
The chief secretary issued this directive during a meeting held on March 17 at the Secretariat conference hall, Kohima, a DIPR report stated.
Alam informed that a memorandum from the media houses of the state regarding pending advertisement bills was received by the state government, which was taken up in the cabinet meeting held on March 11, 2021. He stated that the cabinet was of the view that the media play an important role in the state and felt that no dues should be left pending so as to ensure proper functioning of the media houses.
The chief secretary also called for modernisation of the bill payment system by the departments and urged them to make electronic payments, adding that technology has provided solutions to various problems and challenges faced by the state government in the past as well. He further mooted the possibility of developing appropriate software in consultation with the Technical department.
The meeting deliberated on various other issues related to the functioning of the media and government and agreed on various points to be taken up at the earliest.
The chief secretary asked the departments to clear all pending bills to media houses by March 31.
Report stated that each department would appoint one nodal officer for advertisement related matters and submit the name along with designation, phone number and email address to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR). It added that DIPR would send the compiled list to the media houses.
It informed that the state government would hold an internal meeting with all departments and work out policies for better functioning and relationship between the government and media in the state.
The meeting was attended by officials from concerned departments and representatives from Morung Express, Eastern Mirror, Nagaland Page, Nagaland Post and Tir Yimyim.