PIB organises one-day 'Rural media workshop' in Imphal
Source: The Sangai Express / PIB

Imphal, October 26 2016: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Imphal, organised a one-day "Rural media workshop" at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, on Wednesday.

The inaugural session of the workshop was attended by K Radhakumar, Commissioner of Information and Public Relations (IPR), Government of Manipur as chief guest; Director of Manipur Information and Public Relations, K Meghachandra Kongbam as president and Manibabu Likmabam as the guest of honour.

IPR Commissioner K Radhakumar, in his address as the chief guest stressed on the need for organising such workshops and awareness programmes for media the fraternity.

Media persons must know all the details of the concept of flagship and other welfare programmes of the Government as any misinterpretation of any such programmes may lead people in a different way.

For instance, the media should know the difference between "Make in India" and "Made in India", "Look East Policy" and "Act East Policy" etc.

Otherwise, people may not relate to these terms, he said.

The Commissioner further stressed the importance of a balance reporting by the media.

"Media and ethics" is a big thing media fraternity must keep in mind and they should not compromise this at any cost, he maintained.

In his speech as the president of the function, IPR Director K Meghachandra emphasised the indispensable role of the media in the development of a country or a State.

He talked in length about the importance of media in developing a country or a State.

Government must also take the service of media in assimilating its policy and programmes to the people of all section of society, he said.

Programme Executive Manibabu Likmabam of DDK Imphal also stressed on the role of media in the development of the State like Manipur.

He hoped that the workshop will enhance the capabilities of media persons in reporting Government policies and programmes, particularly flagship programmes of the Government.

He further urged the media persons to avail the benefits of such workshop in equipping themselves for effective reporting.

Media and Communication Officer (MCO), PIB Imphal Premlata Loitam, in her welcome address, said that the workshop was being organised considering the need of assimilating the media on the flagship programmes of the Government and other welfare programmes to the people.

Former editor of Janata Daily Loitongbam Iboyaima Singh spoke on the topic "National Skill Development Mission".

He said knowledge and skill are fertilizers of economic growth and social development of a country.

BB Sharma, retired Deputy Director RNU, AIR, Imphal who also spoke as resource person in the workshop today said "Digital India" will help empower the society.

Digital India aims at to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

The programme (Digital India) will be implemented in phases from the current year till 2018 .

The programme is transformational in nature and would ensure that government services are available to citizens electronically, Sharma said.

Stating that e-governance has already started implementation in Manipur, he said that it was yet to be fully implemented.

Once it is implemented under the initiative of the "Digital India" programme, it will help rooting out corruption from the state, he added.

Senior journalist Yambem Laba who spoke on the topic "Journalism and Rural Development", defined rural development as a process of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people living in relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas.

He said development of rural areas is beginning of advancement of the State or a Country.

Additional Chief Engineer Swamikanta of Public Health Department (PHD), Government of Manipur who spoke on the topic "Swachh Bharat Mission", said change of mindset is the essence of success of the Swachch Bharat Mission.

Cleanliness is not expensive, it need changing of attitude towards disposal of waste, mindset change and proper reduction, reuse and recycling of waste product, the additional chief engineer maintained.

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