Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 12 2010:
A proposal to open a media cell of the State at New Delhi for the ongoing Commonwealth Games was rendered meaningless as the State Government gave its mandatory consent after unexpained delay on October 5 only when the games had already started.
New Delhi based Manipur Information Centre had proposed opening of a media cell to facilitate collection and dissemination of information about Manipuri players taking part in the Commonwealth Games, which is said to be the third largest sporting event of the world.
On receiving the proposal, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) sent a written request to the State Government on September 18, much before the Games started, informed a source.
The DIPR even nominated two of its staff to work in the proposed media cell at New Delhi.
But the Directorate received the State Government's consent only on October 5 when the Games had already begun, making the go ahead signal redundant.
Sending the DIPR staff to New Delhi by train would mean delay for another 3/4 days as there was no facility to send the two staff by air.
Ultimately, the proposal for opening a media cell was set aside by the Government, conveyed the source.
In the absence of such a media cell, media persons, both based inside the State and outside, encountered great difficulties in collecting information about the Manipuri players who won medals in the ongoing Commonwealth Games.