IMPHAL, September 16: Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Friday lauded the challenging day-to-day task of the journalists’ fraternity in the state and assured necessary help the community.
Manipur is a very complex society where more than 30 sub-tribes are living together. It is obvious that any person who belongs to a particular community will want to talk and support his/her community. So, working as journalists amidst such a complex society with commitment is a true service for people, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh stated while delivering his speech at the 43rd foundation day celebration at Manipur Press Club on Friday.
The foundation day celebration was attended by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, AMWJU’s President Wangkhemcha Shamjai, veteran journalist K Madhumangol and Director Information and Public Relations Meghachandra Kongbam as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
In his speech, Ibobi said without press the society will be in complete dark. Apart from press being a fourth pillar of the society, it also leads the society in a right direction. For the welfare of journalists’ faculty, a corpus fund is needed to be established and he will help in whatever level, he assured.
The recent press conference series hosted by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations for all the departments of the state was a good beginning especially to develop better understanding and relationship between the government and people, chief minister added and hopes continuation of the same in the future too.
Meghachandra Kongbam said like giving teaching to students, press is giving mass education through dissemination of news and informations. Unlike the earlier time, the state has platforms like news analysis in AIR Imphal, discussion hour and manung hutna programmes in local TV Channels. He further cited that where there is platform for any issues, there is a way to solve the problem.
Informing that DIPR is taking up many programmes and welfare schemes for improvement of journalism and also for welfare of journalists’ fraternity. To give more awareness and improvement of this profession in hill areas, the directorate is organising 7-days basic training courses in Ukhrul and Senapati districts for the first time, the director added.
AMWJU President Wangkhemcha Shamjai who presided over the day’s function speaking on the occasion said that so far as many as seven journalists have lost their lives while performing their duties while more than 50 others injured in different conflict situations. In order to support some of the bereaved families, the union is providing journalists pensions to 15 beneficiaries through DIPR.
Veteran journalists Kangujam Madhumangol and Akoijam Sanaton also spoke on the occasion which was attended by a sizeable number of journalist’s fraternity of the state.
Earlier, chief minister led the floral tribute to the photos of the departed souls of AMWJU members, simple gifts were given away to the veteran journalists, family members of the departed members and its standing committee members.
