65th IPR Day celebrated
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 01 2014 :
The ongoing construction of building for the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) is set to be completed within this financial year, said chief minister O.Ibobi Singh while speaking at the celebration of 65th Information & Public Relations Day at MSRTC complex, Moirangkhom, here today.
Addressing the gathering at the celebration, chief minister who attended the function as chuief guest stated that the new building of DIPR which is being constructed at the cost of Rs.4 crore will be ready by March 2015 .
A sum of Rs.2 crore has already been sanctioned for the construction, and remaining amount will also be released accordingly, he added.
The foundation stone of the DIPR office building now under construction was laid by Ibobi a few years back.
Admitting that the DIPR plays an enormous role in a democratic country like India, Ibobi said this Department also disseminates important information to people in far-flung areas.
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The state Cabinet has already approved improvement of the DIPR as a major department by installing new equipment, vehicles and manpower, the Chief Minister said, assuring the gathering that deputy directors would be appointed for the Department so that it can function well at the district level.
IPR Principal Secretary Letkhogin Haokip, who was also present at the occasion stressed the need for bridging the gap between people of the hill and valley through DIPR.
Lauding Ibobi, who is holding additional charge of IPR, for providing essential requirements of the Department, Letkhogin called on all staff members of the Department for shouldering responsibility for the state as well as the nation.
Three employees of the Department were given Certificates of Appreciation to mark the occasion.
They were RK Sanayaima Devi, W Nimai Singh and M Tejmani Singh.
Retired employees of the Department were also presented with simple gifts at the event which included a musical entertainment.
Parliamentary Secretary for IPR, K Meghachandra Singh and IPR Director W Rajen were also present at the function as guests of honour.
It may be recalled that the first Publicity Officer of Manipur Government was appointed on November 1 in 1949.Late Rajkumar Maipaksana Singh was the first Publicity Officer of Manipur.
The Information and Publicity office became a Directorate in March 1974 with the appointment of Director and Ex-Officio Secretary.
The Directorate extended its services to the district headquarters by posting Reporters and Information Assistants in districts in 1978.Manipur Information Centre (MIC) was opened at New Delhi in 1981.Recently, the state cabinet took the decision to upgrade the DIPR to a major department with appointment of more manpower and erection of equipment.