Media's role in bolstering democracy vital, says SP

Mangaluru: Media has to play a pivotal role in ensuring that India emerges as the strongest democratic power in the world. Media has played the role of a watchdog and ensured that India's experiment with democratic form of government has belied expectations that its detractors had in the country's ability to adopt to this system given its sheer geographical size and diversity, said S D Sharanappa, superintendent of police, Dakshina Kannada district.
Conferring the Pa Go rural reporting award constituted by Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists' Association on Chandrahas Charmadi, sub-editor, Niranthara Pragathi, here on Tuesday, the SP said the media in Dakshina Kannada has always shown its inclination to highlight social causes without fear or favour. "The media here has by and large been the true mirror of social development," he said, adding that they have taken due care to reflect the sufferings of the people.
The move by the association to present an award for rural reporting that highlights such causes is a meaningful venture of being sensitive to concerns of society on social issues. Noting that he has seen the passion and conviction of media in Dakshina Kannada over his tenure as SP in the district, Sharanappa said the media here is far ahead compared to their counterparts in other districts. He exhorted the media to play its role of being social watchdogs to the fullest.
Accepting the award, Chandrahas thanked his publication for giving him the personal freedom to highlight the social issues faced by the tribals in Gorurhaadi in H D Kote of Mysuru in a state-level daily. It is satisfying that article has drawn the attention of various NGOs who have since stepped up assistance to these tribals by providing amenities to them, he said, adding he will use the cash prize received with the award for the welfare of Gorurhaadi.
Senior journalist Manohar Prasad felicitated the DK district journalists' team that bagged the first place in a cricket tournament organized by Karnataka Union of Working Journalists at Mysuru on this occasion. The association gave a send off to Suresh Belagaje, senior journalist, who has been transferred to Bengaluru. Jagannath Shetty Bala, president, DKWJA; Srinivas Nayak Indaje, secretary, office-bearers of Mangaluru Press Club, Patrika Bhavan Trust were present.