shri vinod sharma - Rajya Sabha

theme 'Parliament - Reflection in media.' The distinguished panellists, no doubt,
would be able to generate an intense and interesting discussion on this very
important theme.
Given the presence of a vast segment of the print and the electronic media
here today, I am sure, this three-day workshop would be a resounding success. I,
once again, welcome all the participating journalists and the panellists to this
workshop and look forward to the enthusiastic participation from all. I would now
invite the hon. Chairman to deliver his inaugural address.
MR. CHAIRMAN: K. Rahman Khan sahib, Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha,
distinguished panellists, friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me
great pleasure to inaugurate the first workshop organised by the Media Advisory
Committee on "Parliament and the Media." It is an important opportunity to engage
in discussion on this topical subject.
At the outset, I wish to place on record the excellent work done by the
Media Advisory Committee in the last year and a half, first, under the Chairmanship
of Dr. Harish Khare and now under Shri Vijay Naik. It has rendered excellent
advice to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat and has formulated transparent policies to
guide the admission of media organisations to the Press Gallery.
I also take this opportunity to congratulate the media for excellent coverage
of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha, especially during the last two sessions. It is
a matter of some satisfaction that the enhanced focus on the deliberative functions
of the House, as evidenced through an increase in Short Duration Discussions and
Calling Attention Motions, has been extensively covered by both the print and the
electronic media. Our media fraternity deserves our deep appreciation for this.