STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Jammu Newspapers Editors’ Guild (JNEG) on Monday felicitated and bade affectionate farewell to Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary to Government, Information and Higher Education Departments in UT of J&K, who has been transferred on central deputation and posted as Additional Secretary in the Union Textile Ministry. The JNEG also felicitated Padam Shri Jagjit Singh Dardi, Senior Journalist, who is also the CEO of Chardikla TV Channel.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman JNEG, Raj Daluja, Editor-in-Chief, STATE TIMES lauded contributions of Rohit Kansal during his spells in various departments in Jammu and Kashmir. Though the UT will miss a dedicated and devoted officer, yet it is heartening to see his progression in the service career and important assignment in the Union Government, he asserted.
Daluja appreciated Dardi, saying that it is a matter of pride for Jammu that the son of soil bagged prestigious Padma award. Raj Daluja said that the veteran journalist and educationist Jagjit Singh Dardi (Editor-in-Chief, Chardikla and Chairman of Shri Guru Harkrishan Public Schools & Chardikla Time TV) was conferred Padma Shri Award for his dedicated services in promoting national integration and communal harmony.
“Dardi’s exemplary contribution in the field of media, education and promotion of Punjabi language, culture and heritage will always be remembered. He began his career in his teens and for the creation of a Punjabi-speaking state, courted arrest on June 22, 1960 for his participation in Punjabi Sabha Movement from Dukhniwaran Sahib at an age of 12 years. Dardi has 62 years of long experience to his credit and has done remarkable service in the field of media. He became a member of Press/ Media Advisory Committees of Lok Sabha in 1997-98 and Rajya Sabha in 2014. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the world’s largest body of print media, Indian Newspaper Society (INS), since 1988. He became a member of Press Council of India in 2001 and rendered services for three terms. He remained a member of all Prime Ministers’ media delegation since 1993. Under his guidance, Chardikla newspaper is being published daily since 1970. He started Chardikla Time TV Channel in 2007. Besides being a journalist, he is also Chairman of the chain of educational institutions in Patiala, opened with an aim to spread the quality and affordable education for masses and to inculcate moral values amongst younger generation. Due to his exceptional services, he has also been bestowed Shiromani Patarkar Award by President K R Narayan in 1998 and Shiromani Sahityakar Award by Punjab Government in 1992. He has been honoured by World Punjabi Conference in 1997 by USA and Canada in 1989,” he added.
President JNEG, A K Sawhney (Chief Patron daily Journey Line newspaper), termed Kansal’s transfer to Government of India as a matter of great satisfaction and pride. He hailed head and heart qualities of Rohit Kansal, who had been the Government Spokesman for several years. He headed Information PR Department as the Principal Secretary for past several years and entire media fraternity, and constituents of JNEG had very healthy relations with the administration due to Kansal, who acted as a bridge between JNEG, media fraternity and Government of J&K.
Pertinent to mention here that Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, Information and Higher Education department in Jammu and Kashmir administration is proceeding on central deputation after being posted by the Government of India as Additional Secretary in Union Textile Ministry. Kansal’s transfer was ordered by Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) in an order issued last Saturday. The Appointment Committee of Cabinet has posted Kansal, a 1995-batch IAS officer of Union Territory cadre, as Additional Secretary in Union Textiles Ministry. As Administrative Secretary of Power Development Department, Kansal played a crucial role in augmenting and strengthening infrastructure in the sector in both Kashmir and Jammu regions. He played a key role in the implementation of the Government’s initiative to reach out to the people at grass-root level through ‘Back to Village’ programme.
Sawhney also appreciated Jagjit Singh Dardi, who was a media baron of India and a very competent and dynamic journalist, running a 24X7 National News Channel.
Vice President of JNEG Syed Iqbal Kazmi (Editor daily Urdu Udaan), General Secretary, Vijay Gupta, Editor Young Bites; Joint Secretary/ Spokesperson JNEG, Vishal Chopra, Editor Jammu Metro; Vinod Kumar, Editor Truly Times; Amit Sawhney, Editor Journey Lines and other Executive Members presented mementos to Jagjit Singh Dardi and Rohit Kansal.
