PCI team briefs HM on scribes' grievances
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 26 2013: The official team of Press Council of India (PCI) which is currently at Imphal on a fact finding mission about the problems being faced by journalists in Manipur today met Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also in charge of Home, at the latter's office chamber at Old Secretariat here where the visiting PCI officials briefed him about the grievances of the scribes.

The PCI officials also enquired about the security measures being taken up by the State Government for the safety and security of the journalists, if there were any.

During the meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister, PCI Sub-Committee Convenor Kosuri Amarnath conveyed that the State Government has a great role to play in safeguarding the lives of journalists to ensure freedom of speech in a trouble-torn State like Manipur.

Amarnath also referred to the memorandum submitted by the journalists where a long list of threats and killings of media persons in Manipur have been enumerated and the failure of the State Home Department to take up any action against the perpetrators.

Amarnath made it clear that if no actions are taken up against those trying to infringe on the freedom of press, then there is no hope for the media persons to enjoy their freedom and their right to life will always remain under threats from various quarters.

Taking serious note over the grievances aired by media persons over absence of protection for them, Amarnath also pointed out the need to initiate confident building measures to win the trust of the media persons.

Amarnath apprised the Deputy Chief Minister that till date, seven journalists have been killed in Manipur while on duties while as much as 39 journalists in the country in 2012 alone with Assam recorded at 24, the highest number of deaths among all the states visited.

Maharashtra is the only State in India that has implemented a law for the protection and safety of working journalists.

He also pointed out to Deputy Chief Minister on the need to improve the working condition or environment of the journalists in the State by providing with best type of honorarium.

Furthermore, Amarnath pointed out that rate of advertisement given to media houses through the IPR has been increased in all other North East States except Manipur.

After giving a patient hearing, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam acknowledged that media persons have been playing a big role in the State in all spheres including implementation of Look East Policy.

The development of a society depends on the role of the media and as such media has been described as the fourth pillar of democratic government.

Gaikhangam further stated that the Government and the media should come together for a good cause and try to correct all errors whatsoever.

He also assured looking after all the existing gaps in this regard.

Gaikhangam informed the visiting PCI officials that during his two and a half years of taking charge as the Home Minister of the State, he has been able to normalise the law and order situation in Manipur to a large extent in-spite of the presence of more than 50 UG groups.

He also stated that the State Government has been giving all possible help to the media fraternity during the recent threat on media persons and hawkers.

Such problems will exist in one way or the other and the media fraternity and the Government will continue to hold talks for improving the relationship.

While acknowledging the visit of the PCI team to take stock of the problems being faced by journalists in Manipur, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, however, noted that just a couple of days' visit to Manipur by the PCI team will not be able to grasp and understand the whole situation.

So, the PCI team would need to stay at least for 6 months to understand the situation of Manipur.

Apart from the visiting PCI officials, an AMWJU team led by its President W Shyamjai and Director of Information and Public Relations, Government of Manipur W Rajen were present during the meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister which took place from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

When the AMWJU team asked if any clue has been found regarding the recent threat issued by an underground group to the state media fraternity and newspaper hawkers, Gaikhangam immediately talked to Imphal West district Superintendent of Police over phone seeking latest information on the matter.

He later instructed the SP to discuss the matter with the AMWJU in a meeting.

Earlier, during the day today, the PCI team met the DGP, top officials of 57 Mountain Division and IGAR (S) at the Old Secretariat Hall.

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