Nagaland Chiref Secretary J Alam addressing a meeting with the media houses in the State held at Secretariat Conference hall in Kohima on March 17. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, March 17 (MExN): Chief Secretary (CS) of Nagaland, J Alam has directed 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 of Nagaland and the media.
During a meeting held on March 17 at the Secretariat Conference Hall in Kohima, the CS 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.
He stated that the Cabinet was of the view that the media plays 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 and added that the meeting was convened in order to address and resolve the issue.
The CS called for departments to modernize bill payment system 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 also mooted the possibility of developing appropriate software in consultation with 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 CS urged payments of all pending bill to media houses to be cleared by March 31, 2021, a DIPR report informed.
Each department will appoint one nodal officer for advertisement related matters and will submit the name along with designation, phone number and email address to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR). DIPR will send the compiled list to the media houses, it added.
The report further informed that the State government will 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 The Morung Express, Eastern Mirror, Nagaland Page, Nagaland Post and Tir Yimyim.
