Press Information Bureau, Chandigarh organized "Vartalap" – a Media Workshop in Panipat to Strengthen Coordination between Government and Local Journalists

Panipat, August 6, 2025: Press Information Bureau (PIB) Chandigarh organized a media workshop titled ‘Vartalap’ at Panipat, marking the first such initiative for local journalists in the district. The workshop aimed to foster better coordination between the media and government, and to disseminate information about the public welfare schemes of the Central and State Governments.

The event was inaugurated by Virendra Kumar Dahiya, Deputy Commissioner of Panipat. In his address, he highlighted the importance of Vartalap as a collaborative platform for dialogue between media and the government, aimed at eliminating communication gaps and encouraging mutual understanding. In his address, he emphasized that strengthening Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) is essential to equip youth with industry-relevant skills. He appreciated the initiative of organizing such a workshop to strengthen collaboration between government departments and the media.

Sheenam Jain, Assistant Director, PIB Chandigarh, delivered the opening remarks and addressed various queries from journalists regarding the Press Sewa Portal. Dr. Bineet Kaur, Assistant Director, presented a comprehensive overview of the functioning of various departments under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The Guest of Honour, Sushil Aggrawal, Regional Director, Skill Development, spoke about the role of the Directorate General of Training under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He emphasized the importance of schemes like Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) and the creation and enhancement of training infrastructure.

Sugan Lal Meena, Joint Director, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), discussed the benefits provided by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation and shared insights into the Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employees (SPREE) scheme. Himanshu Khatri, District Development Manager, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), shed light on the scheme for promotion of the cooperative sector movement in the context of the new cooperative policy, and stressed the need to revitalize cooperatives as member-centric institutions promoting inclusive growth. Dr. Abid Ali, Assistant Professor at Kurukshetra University, addressed the role of media in skill development within the cooperative sector. He sensitized journalists about the importance of reporting on cooperative societies, their principles and challenges, and how community journalism can support their growth.

Various officials from PIB were present in the media workshop. Ahmad Khan, Media and Communication Officer, PIB Chandigarh, underlined the pivotal role played by PIB in addressing public concerns and stated that the media serves as an effective bridge between the government and the people. Shr Sunil Bastara, District Information and Public Relations Officer (DIPRO) was also present on the occasion and extended a formal vote of thanks to the participating media personnel for their active engagement.

The workshop facilitated meaningful discussions on the challenges faced by regional media and how they can effectively communicate public welfare initiatives to the citizens. It concluded with an emphasis on continued collaboration between the government and media to ensure better public awareness, greater transparency, and more informed citizen participation in governance.