Gangtok, May 19 (IPR): The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Gangtok, hosted a regional media workshop titled Vartalap at a local hotel in Gangtok today. The event served as a dynamic interface between government functionaries and media professionals, addressing pressing issues ranging from policy dissemination to combating fake news. Gracing the event as Chief Guest was Mr Kripa Shanker Yadav, Additional Director General of PIB, North East Zone, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. The workshop also saw the presence of key dignitaries including Dr Rajib Gogoi, Regional Head, Botanical Survey of India, and Mr Neeraj Pandey, Cluster Head, Prasar Bharati. Mr Manas P Sarma, Assistant Director, PIB Gangtok, delivered the welcome address, underlining the indispensable role of media in communicating the developmental vision of the government and the need for collaborative synergy in an era dominated by digital narratives. The workshop was structured into three high-impact sessions: Session I: Sikkim@50 & Growth of Media Chaired by Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Mr Bikash Basnet, this session explored the double-edged nature of digital media. Mr Basnet highlighted how the proliferation of new media has eased information flow but has also intensified the risks of misinformation. Emphasising the transformative potential of the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Sikkim, he pointed to its likely impact on the tourism sector—a linchpin of Sikkim’s economy. Mr Basnet reiterated the Chief Minister’s vision for an empowered local media and commended the IPR Department’s efforts in combatting misinformation. Session II: Tourism As A Way of Life with special emphasis on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra This session featured an insightful interaction with Secretary, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department Mr Prakash Chettri, and was moderated by senior journalist Mr DR Dulal. The Secretary detailed the state’s rural tourism initiatives and infrastructural progress under the Chief Minister’s leadership. Of notable mention was the reopening of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route after six years—expected to catalyze pilgrimage tourism and reinforce Sikkim’s religious tourism credentials. He also advocated for developing battlefield tourism, citing its potential as a unique and culturally resonant niche. Session III: Role of Media in countering Fake News and propaganda Moderated by Mr Mainak Chatterjee, Information Assistant, PIB Gangtok, this critical session featured ADG NEZ PIB Mr Kripa Shanker Yadav, Secretary Information & Public Relations Department Ms Annapurna Alley, and Editor Sikkim Express Mr Amit Patro. The panel underscored the need for robust fact-checking mechanisms, with Mr Kripa Shanker Yadav highlighting PIB’s Fact-Check Unit’s role in curbing disinformation, especially during cross-border tensions. Mr Patro urged emerging journalists to prioritise credibility in an age where speed often overshadows accuracy. Ms Annapurna Alley, suggested for fact checking by all individuals, she also spoke on the Digital Policy of the Government thats being created and expressed her hopes that some problems highlighted today can be addressed through this policy. An engaging Q&A session followed, with journalists raising region-specific concerns and exploring collaborative solutions to strengthen media ethics and accountability. The Vartalap concluded with a resounding reaffirmation of PIB’s commitment to fostering transparent governance and responsible journalism. It stood as a testament to the evolving role of media as both watchdog and partner in the nation’s development narrative under the vision of Viksit Bharat.