Udalguri-Sonitpur, Nov 2: The North-East News Trust Association has set its sights on bringing around 5,000 accredited journalists and media professionals from across the northeastern states under a common platform, following a special general meeting held at Central Rangali Bihu Bhawan in Dhekiajuli, Sonitpur district, on November 1.
Established on September 27 at Kanaka Gramin Resort in Pachnoi, the organisation aims to promote the professional growth, socio-economic welfare and overall development of journalists and media personnel. It is modelled on established news agencies such as PTI, UNI and Reuters.
The association plans to build a network comprising accredited journalists, media professionals and personnel associated with popular news portals with substantial readership and viewership across the region.
The meeting discussed the organisation’s structure, expansion plans, future programmes and development initiatives. Among its key objectives is the dissemination of news in Assamese, English, Hindi, Bodo, Nepali, Santali, Bengali and other languages. It also aims to ensure daily news coverage from every district of the Northeast through at least 10 daily newspapers, 10 electronic media platforms and 100 news portals.
Members approved a three-tier organisational framework comprising an Executive Council, a Steering Committee and a General Council. A 15-member Executive Council was constituted with Nab Kumar Deka as president, Sujit Kataki as working president and Sanjoy Baruah as secretary.
The other members are Ganesh Deka, Anand Sharma, Shani Ram Daimary, Ganesh Sharma, Jonach Basumatary, Pankaj Kumar, Pankaj Dev and Tapan Sengupta. Fatin Rabha, Dhiren Mahalia, Ganesh Chandra Deka and Prafulla Kumar Boro were included as special members.
The meeting also approved a 101-member General Council to assist the Executive Council through organisational support, guidance and suggestions. Nab Kumar Deka, Sujit Kataki and Sanjoy Baruah will serve as its president, working president and secretary, respectively, while Prafulla Kumar Boro and Dhiren Mahalia were named assistant secretaries.
Kaustubh Mani Sharma was appointed chief treasurer, Pankaj Kumar treasurer, and Hafizur Rahman Ansari and Prafulla Kumar Barman organising secretaries. The council also includes journalists and media professionals from different districts of the region.
Addressing the gathering, Deepak Kurmi, a journalist associated with The Indian Express in the Northeast, described the initiative as the beginning of a new journey for the region’s media fraternity. He said journalism involved not only reporting events but also carrying professional responsibilities, making the safety, welfare and rights of media personnel important concerns.
Kurmi welcomed the association’s target of bringing 5,000 media professionals together and highlighted its proposed 20 initiatives, including a Journalists’ Welfare Trust Fund, an Education Development Committee, professional training programmes and awards for journalists. He expressed hope that these measures would benefit grassroots and field-level reporters.
The association also discussed development programmes spanning more than 100 areas, including socio-economic development, art and culture, education, sports, science and technology, forest conservation and environmental protection. Projects aimed at improving members’ financial independence and creating employment opportunities also featured in the deliberations.
As part of its long-term welfare agenda, the meeting resolved to establish a Journalists’ Welfare Trust Fund and an Education Development Committee.
The first session was chaired by Nab Kumar Deka, while Ganesh Sharma presided over the second. Secretary Sanjoy Baruah outlined the association’s objectives.
The meeting also decided to hold a special general meeting in Guwahati in 2027 to review progress and discuss future activities.
Members expressed hope that the platform would strengthen professional dignity, financial security, journalistic standards and social responsibility across the Northeast’s media fraternity.
