DIPR needs to be media professional dept: Oppn
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 22 2014:
The State Opposition today said the Manipur Government's Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) now needs to be upgraded to a media professional department for streamlining its functioning.
The Government must always think how it will go with the people, an Opposition source said while claiming the Publicity Office had already been upgraded to a major department way back in 1974 by employing IAS and MCS officers and since then, it has failed.
The source maintained it is the duty of this department to build a good image of the Government by disseminating information on the plans and policies, activities and achievements of the Government constantly by using the tool of public relations.
It said every State in the country has its own DIPR manned by media professionals and the Central Government media�Information & Broadcasting Ministry has its media professionals as Indian Information Service (IIS) officers trained at Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) .
Neighbouring States of Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram too have DIPR manned by media professionals and framed Information Service Rules.
In these States, Information officers are opened up to the Subdivisional levels to reach out their Governments' information to the grass roots level.
Manipur Government started functioning of its media office (Publicity Office) since November 1, 1949 two weeks after Manipur merged with the Indian Union on October 15, 1949 .
One media professional RK Meipaksana, editor of Prajatantra, mouthpiece of Congress party, was first appointed as the Publicity Officer.
The office had established good relationships between the Government and people by organizing plan exhibitions, photo exhibitions, State level drama and Shumang Lila festivals, film and drama shows in interior and hill areas of the State.
As Manipur having 33 different communities speaking different dialects, it is not an easy task for the Government to conduct good relationships with all kinds of people in the State.
The source further dwelt on a few points on media strategy for the State, and pointed out among others that appointment of a media professional as director by engaging an IIS officer from the Centre or nurturing the department media professionals to be the head of the DIPR will automatically streamline the functioning of the department.