Nandini Magazine Editor Maini Mahanta received USTM Media Excellence Award-2018

GUWAHATI, 6 July 2018: The University of Science & Technology Meghalaya today honoured media personalities from the region recognising their contribution in the field of News Media giving legitimacy to people’s voice and augmenting the role of media as the “Fourth Estate”. The Awards were conferred today on the occasion of USTM PR Day-2018 held in a glorious function presided over by Prof Nirmal Kumar Chaudhury, former Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University while the Chief Guest of the event was former Meghalaya Governor Shri R S Mooshahary. A galaxy of media persons and dignitaries from the region, including Mr PJ Baruah, Executive Editor, The Assam Tribune and Dr PK Goswami, Vice Chancellor, USTM has graced the occasion.

This year’s USTM Media Excellence Award went to four media stalwarts of the region:
Mr Zarir Hussain, Chief Managing Editor, News Live Television; Mr Dileep Chandan, Editor, Asom Bani; Mr Samudra Gupta Kashyap, veteran journalist & author and Ms Maini Mahanta, Editor, Nandini. The USTM Media Achiever Award-2018 went to eight senior journalists from the region. They are: Mr Sujit Chakraborty, Special Correspondent, IANS, Tripura; Mr Satyanarayan Misra, Staff Reporter, Dainik Purvoday; Mr Imtiaz Ahmed, Senior Reporter, The Telegraph, Guwahati; Ms Monmoromi Mahanta, Journalist, Prag Channel; Mr Mridul Haloi, Sub Editor, Dainik Janambhumi; Mr Aafaque Hussain, Staff Reporter, The Shillong Times; Ms Tinakali Sumi, Senior Sub Editor, Nagaland Post and Ms Evanjoplin Dkhar, Senior Reporter, Meghalaya Guardian, Shillong. The awards were handed over to the recipients by the eminent dignitaries.

Delivering his keynote address on “Role of Universities in Outreach Activities”, Padma Shri Manas Chaudhuri, Managing Director, The Shillong Times, said that universities have immense responsibility in shaping the future of a generation by community engagement, public service and knowledge exchange, apart from its main areas of teaching and research.
Another keynote speaker on the occasion was, Shri Prasanta Rajguru, Editor, Amar Asom. Delivering a lecture on “Role of Universities in Socio-Political Awareness”, Shri Rajguru said that educational institutions are temple of knowledge and universities being the highest level of educational institution, have a great deal of responsibility in creating social and political awareness among the people.

Addressing the gathering, Shri RS Mooshahary, former Governor of Meghalaya said that there are very few private universities that have seen such level of growth within few years of their establishment as USTM has experienced. Delivering the media awards, Shri Mooshahary said that media too has its social responsibilities and it can play a positive or negative role in the society. He urged all media persons to contribute positively to the society and the country as a whole.

Shri Mahbubul Hoque, the Chancellor of USTM, stated that it has been a challenging journey for USTM which began with only six students in 2011 and now the University takes pride to have more than 5,000 students. The University has adopted a holistic approach for social development, besides its consistent mission towards development of individuals and the society in the field of education. The University’s outreach programmes and activities are gradually being expanded to reach those areas and people requiring support and assistance. “We are placing the University Progress Report in front of media and other dignitaries in this USTM PR Day”, he said.

It must be mentioned here that USTM is the number one private university in the region – the “people’s university” as it is known—and has been putting its full efforts to stand in its true sense. USTM has generously opened the door for the poor and underprivileged meritorious students of the society to continue higher studies in this University with the provision of “Free Education” thus not letting poverty to be a hindrance in education for the deserving candidates. The provision is also applicable for the children of the media fraternity as they hardly receive such support. The University has adopted a “Pay Back Policy” to encourage the students to qualify the prestigious competitive examinations. USTM has also introduced Pay Back Policy to return entire course fees to students who qualify the NET/SLET examinations to encourage the students and to create the competitive mood among the students.