Kotpad: Nov 10 (UDN): The Bharat Media Association Journalists’ Association in Kotpad performed the Bhumi Pujan ceremony for the construction of its new community hall in front of the newly constructed Kotpad bus stand. The auspicious ceremony was conducted with traditional rituals and prayers in the presence of several distinguished guests, political representatives, and members of the media fraternity.
The proposed community hall is being constructed with financial assistance of ₹5 lakh sanctioned from the MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) Fund for the year 2014 by former minister and former Kotpad MLA Padmini Dian. The Kotpad Tahasil administration has also facilitated the project by sanctioning four cents of land for the construction of the building.
The allotted land is situated at Damayantinagar under Kotpad Police Station limits, recorded under Khata No. 1244 and Plot No. 119, classified as ‘Patita’, with the total plot area measuring 6.52 acres. Following the official land allotment, the foundation-laying ceremony was organised with all traditional religious rituals.
Several prominent personalities attended the programme, including former minister and former Kotpad MLA Padmini Dian, former MLA Chandrasekhar Majhi, Block Vice-Chairman Tapan Panigrahi, Pani Panchayat President Biren Bisoi, Kotpad Bar Association President Ganesh Chandra Panda, OLO Secretary Pradeep Bakshi, Maniprasad Pattnaik, Press Club President Pankaj Patra, senior leader Narendra Swain, Hemant Patra, M.D. Salim, Shankar Panda, Muna Khan, Binod Sashmal and Himanshu Sashmal, along with other distinguished members of the community.
Members of the Bharat Media Association, the Press Club and various journalists’ associations were also present at the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the distinguished guests appreciated the contribution of journalists as the fourth pillar of democracy and praised their efforts in delivering impartial and responsible news coverage. They congratulated the journalists’ association on the commencement of its new community hall project and extended their best wishes for its successful completion.
The establishment of the new community hall is expected to provide journalists in the Kotpad region with a dedicated space for meetings, discussions, organisational activities and other media-related programmes.