Media is the fourth pillar of democracy: Dr Sehrish

Director Information and Public Relations Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar, said that her endeavour has been to strengthen the department and cement the relationship between media & Government.

In an interview with Kashmir Magazine, she revealed that her effort has been to take everyone along in an eventful year of her career as Director Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).

“When I joined DIPR more than a year back, there were challenges. For an administrator, every day brings new challenges. In all those challenges, my attempt was to take everyone on board. When I took the baton of DIPR my efforts were to try and facilitate the journalist fraternity. We started the Media Facilitation Centre (MFC) in challenging circumstances. Initially, there were difficulties, but we worked hard and gradually managed to create an enabling ecosystem to ensure smooth working atmosphere for journalists. We used to get feedback regularly and accordingly used to improve the facilities. Our Endeavour and intention were to provide maximum possible facilities to the media fraternity in those circumstances. To ensure all these facilities, we utilized our resources including manpower optimally. All my team members worked hard and credit should go to all of them for working exceptionally hard, many a time way beyond the call of duty. All of us in the Information Department have worked tirelessly (day and night) to ensure that the bridge between Govt and media stays fully functional and effectively so ” she said. “Other than my own responsibility as head of DIPR, We had directions from top to facilitate media persons. Now, 2g is restored, broadband is functional but, we kept the Media Facilitation Centre operational. Journalists throng the place even today albeit not in big numbers like 300 to 400 on a single day like we used to host in the MFC. The Media fraternity has appreciated the move. It is very likely possible we will continue to keep the Media Facilitation Centre open. It can be a place where media and Government officials can do something meaningful or positive for J&K. In present COVID pandemic also we had to redouble our efforts and had no holidays. Our responsibility grew many-fold in the pandemic.”

On being asked about the role of media in J&K, she said, “Media is the fourth pillar of democracy. The work we do as a department is important, it reaches the masses through the media. The masses, on the contrary, get a voice through media for whatever people want to highlight, here media plays the role of the medium. As a head of DIPR, I have seen professional media playing a positive role in every situation. Whenever we tried to reach out to people with information related to public issues, it was though media. Media played an important role in all such circumstances. Similarly, people projected their feedback and grievances in media and we as a department tried to assimilate them. We created a media grievance cell and every day we send these grievances projected by media to the concerned Secretaries /Heads of Departments for appropriate necessary action”.

“Constructive Criticism is appreciated. If for example anyone is involved in any mala fide activities, it would appreciable if the media highlights it. There are some activities which come under IPC or CRPC, DIPR does not interfere in that. If media highlights about infrastructure development, grievances, we encourage and appreciate it. In fact, Hon’ble LG is particular about grievance redressal,” she informed Kashmir Magazine.

Negating the allegations of some editors that their advertisements are curtailed after covering highhandedness of forces in their newspapers, she said, “Advertisements are purely based on the objective parameters of the circulation of the newspapers and the target audience for the advertisements, nothing else. Suffice to say that our effort is to ensure that an objective, robust system is further built upon. If sometimes there are suggestions, we incorporate them and try to further improve things. As an IAS officer, I want to build an institution and set objective parameters so that arbitrary discretions never come into play .”

On being asked about the launch of Sukoon a popular programme among masses for which Director Information was praised by one and all, she said, “ The basic objective of the Sukoon was to reach out to people who are in crisis due to COVID pandemic. We initiated it in March by starting Teleclasses for Government school students of 6th to 12th class. Teachers of these schools would record their lectures and after editing them we used to telecast it on DD Kashir for two hours every day. Then we started the present version of Sukoon programme for people who were inside their homes due to lockdown. Domestic violence, drug addiction, suicidal tendencies cases were rising and above all, there was a lot of misinformation related to COVID was being circulated, Director Information told Kashmir Magazine, “ Home isolation, rapid testing, vaccine, the role of Masks and Pregnancy in COVID, mental health and physical health topics were covered by local specialists every Saturday on DD Kashmir at 7:30 PM. People appreciated it and we received good feedback on the initiative. We propagate it on social media also. Now we have expanded its scope like we covered topics for the people who have become jobless due to COVID. The feedback was overwhelming as much as now people suggest us topics on which they want to listen from experts. To amplify the reach out of the initiative, we collaborated with some FM channels also. We want more and more people to connect and want to continue it. We are now covering issues of women who suffer more in such difficult situations.”

Dr Sehrish also said that recce of two thee places has been done and suitable place will be finalized for Joint Director Information’s office soon.

Regarding the demand of journalists for the restoration of 4G, she said, “It does not fall in my domain and I would not like to comment on things which are not in my domain.”

Regarding shortage of trained manpower in DIPR Dr Sehrish said, “One of the difficulties department is facing is trained manpower. Over the past so many years with the advent of more technology, there is a need for specialized manpower. There is a need to improve the skill of all employees. People have increased expectations from the media. Now they watch national and international media, that way our standard should also improve. We recently organised a 7-day course on the audio-visual medium for officers of the Department to improve their skill set. We need skilled manpower. We need to bring those people who can do things in a better way. We have to think about the recruitment of manpower whether it is the contractual or permanent basis on these lines.”

About disengagement of 45 trained professionals who were working in DIPR from so many years, Director Information said, “That is a Government decision. As a director, my job is to strengthen the directorate. How will I leave this directorate will show up on me. We have stated skilling up the employees. The department needs improvement and the Government is totally committed to improving the department. I have started this programme of Archives so that we can have any picture or video whenever we need it in future.”

"It was a big responsibility. As a first woman director of the DIPR, it was an opportunity for me. From day one my endeavour has been to strengthen the department. Looking back I feel happy that we improved the systems with the aim of long term sustainability. I give credit to my team as well and they have always been ready to explore everything to strengthen the department and its working."

Dr Sehrish also said that Fact-check DIPR has helped to check on fake news which was being circulated on different mediums, “In the start of COVID pandemic lot of fake orders were being circulated. Fake signed copies of deputy commissioners were circulated. To check this, we launched the fact check DIPR website to check fake news. We crossed more than 10 lakh hits in a short period and it is growing. If we came across fake orders, we check it with concerned and update its status accordingly.”

The Director Information suggests journalists should understand their responsibility before posting anything, “Media has an important role. People believe and understand the language of the media. The responsibility of the media has thus grown many folds. In present times when news flows on media, before posting anything, media persons should understand that it will have an impact. Self-regulation is thus important for media. It is important to use any platform of media whether it is print, electronic or social media in a positive way, eventually with the aim of public welfare. “