Imphal, March 05 2009:: The seventh annual meet of the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) was opened today at Kangla hall.

The three day long meet hosted by the NWMI, Manipur Chapter is being participated by 70 lady journalists of the country.

The inaugural function of the annual meet was graced by Chairman of the Manipur State Commission for Women Dr Ch Jamini, Editor of the Ereibak Irengbam Arun and Editor of the Aja daily Valley Rose as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr Ch Jamini stressed on the importance of economic empowerment for women of Manipur.

Taking into account the prevailing condition of Manipur, Dr Jamini observed that women in Manipur face the possibility of untold miseries in case necessary measures are not initiated to ensure economic security of the women.

Womenfolk of the State have been shouldering great responsibility with regard to several issues and problems besetting the State since the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, she stated while lamenting that the present generation seems to have taken little notice of the momentous part being played by women with regard to various social issues.

On the other hand, gender discrimination still persists in the society and many women are being subjected to various forms of harassments and violence.

At such a juncture, it is crucial to increase the number of women journalists, she asserted.

In his speech, Irengbam Arun appreciated a good number of women taking up the profession of journalism even though the movement of journalism came to the State quite late.

The close coordination between women journalists of the State and their counterparts of other States will certainly help in giving an impetus to the movement of journalism in Manipur, he noted.

Valley Rose observed that the birth of women journalists in the State will prove a major step towards bringing a new Manipur.

The inaugural function also featured an interaction programme on myriad issues between editors and journalists of the local dailies with NWMI members coming from different parts of the country.

The prominent topics of the interaction programme were problems faced by scribes in Manipur and the role being shared by women journalists within the conflict situation prevalent in the State.

The annual award of Anupama Jayaraman Award given to outstanding women journalists below 25 years of age was conferred to senior correspondent of the Hindustan Times (Mumbai edition) Alifiya Khan.

The award carrying Rs 15,000 in cash and a citation was given away by the chairman of the Anupama Jayaramani Memorial Trust during today's inaugural function.

The second day annual meet of the NWMI will be held at Retreat House, Mantripukhri tomorrow.

Tomorrow's programme features a workshop on media ethics.

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