Agartala, November 13 (TIWN): National Press Day will be celebrated at Agartala press club on November 16. To mark this occasion, a symposium on “Jana Jibane Swacchata” will be organized. On the very day, programme will be arranged in collaboration of Agartala Press Club and Information and Cultural Affairs Department .Information and Cultural Affairs Minister , Bhanulal Saha will be presided over the meeting .On this auspicious day, felicitation will be offered to veteran journalist Satyabrata Chakraborty.

The 16th of November – is symbolic of a free and responsible press in India. This was the day on which the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog to ensure that not only did the press maintain the high standards expected from this powerful medium but also that it was not fettered by the influence or threats of any extraneous factors. Though there are several Press or Media Councils world over, the Press Council of India is a unique entity in as-much-as this is the only body to exercise an authority even over the instruments of the state in its duty to safeguard the independence of the press.

Recommending the establishment of Press Council in 1956 the Its Press Commission had concluded that the best way of maintaining professional ethics in journalism would be to bring into existence a body with statutory authority, of people principally connected with industry whose duty it would be to arbitrate. To this end the Press Council of India was established and the body that was evolved since November 16, 1966 has not belied the objective.

November 16 therefore personifies a responsible and free press in the country.The National Press Day on November 16 every year is commemorated in befitting manner by the Council. Since the year 1997 following Seminars have been organized by the Press Council on occasion of National Press Day (November 16).