Financial assistance given to six Manipur journalists

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Nov. 14 (EMN): Manipur Information & Public Relations Minister Th Biswajit handed over financial assistance to 6 media persons at his official residence today. The assistance were provided under the Manipur State Journalists Welfare Scheme(MSJWS) which was launched formally on June 30 last year as part of important programme of the state government’s 100 day’s achievement.

While handing over the cheques, Minister Biswajit said that the government has always acknowledged the important role played by the media and media persons despite various hardships and challenges faced by them while discharging their duties. The important role played by the fourth estate in a democracy is necessary more than ever in the globalised world of media.

This government recognising the immense contribution launched the scheme as an important programme of the new government’s 100 days achievement, he added. The benefits for the media persons will be increased from time to time according to the resources available to the government. He appealed the media persons to bear with the present financial disbursement.

Condoling the sudden demise of K Bipin Sharma of Impact TV and other media persons, he said that it is a great loss for the media fraternity and the state and further stated that ex-gratia for the demise person will be handed soon after due process.

The six media persons availing the benefits of the scheme are (Late) N Gitchandra Singh of Manipur Mail, V Khamkhanthang of Manipur Express (one time ex-gratia INR 2 lakh each), Ph Santosh, Photo Journalist, Y Mangi Ningthouja of Pandam Daily (medical assistance INR 1 lakh each) and K Rajen Meetei of Liklam Journal and Late K Bipin Sharma of Impact TV (medical assistance INR 50,000 each).

So far 10 media persons have availed financial assistance under the MSJWS which came into existence after the contribution of INR 10 crores towards its Corpus Fund on May 5, 2017.