Infancy At 65 : DIPR still circulating handwritten press releases in this hi-tech information age
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Seram Neken
Imphal, November 02 2014:
Even after 65 years of establishment of Publicity office by the Government of Manipur and its upgradation into a Directorate in 1974, the Information and Public Relations Directorate is circulating handwritten press handouts to the media houses, that too in its worse handwriting which is highly difficult to be deciphered by mediapersons in the desk.
Even the Chief Minister's Secretariat very often dispatches handwritten copies of important press releases pertaining to programmes involving the executive head of Manipur Government.
In this hi-tech information age, the state is far behind her counterparts with regard to Information and Publicity matters.
Importance of publicity was felt as early as during the period of kingship in Manipur.
Interestingly, the king used to spread messages to the subjects by means of 'Sagol Pao', 'Meihum Morok', 'Lanbung Thinba' etc.
in early days.
Of course, the king's message was one way, where people could not react or refuse.
But nowadays, in democratic societies, all information from the government must reach the public and in turn the people have to feed their reactions back to the source.
Communication is not truly effective if it is only one way.
Hence two-way communication is the best communication in modern societies.
Realizing the importance of the concept of publicity, the government of Manipur just after independence from the British yoke deputed one Laishram Gopal who was then superintendent of Government Press to hold the charge of publicity.
Later, the government allotted the charge of publicity to Rajkumar Sanahal (B Com) who was the Taxation Officer of the time.
There had been no official exclusively to take charge of the publicity until the government appointed Rajkumar Maipaksana Singh as the first publicity officer of Manipur Government on 1st November in 1949.The day on which the skilled journalist was appointed (November 1) has been celebrated as Information and Publicity Day every year by the state government since 1991.Due to obvious reasons, veteran journalist Maipaksana had to resign from the post on 3rd December the same year, as he thought of serving independently in newspaper establishments with which he associated.
Nevertheless, he is honoured as the first publicity officer of Manipur Government.
In the year 1992, RK Maipaksana along with Keisham Kunjabihari, and Thiyam Meghachandra were honoured by the Government with the State Journalist Award for their commendable works in the field.
The Information and Publicity office became a Directorate in March 1974 with the appointment of Director and Ex-Officio Secretary.
The Directorate extended its services to the district headquarters by posting Reporters and Information Assistants in districts later in 1978.Manipur Information Centre (MIC) was opened at New Delhi in 1981.Recently, the state cabinet took the decision to upgrade the DIPR to a major department with appointment of more manpower and erection of equipment.
In fact, the publicity office of Manipur has gone a long way since its establishment in the year 1949.A lot of changes might have been brought about in its way of functioning.
However, still after 65 years of its existence, the publicity office of the state is issuing handwritten press releases despite having its own printing equipment at least typewriters or computer printers.
Even the chief minister's secretariat is circulating handwritten press statements to various media houses during this hi-tech information age.
It is worthy of note that even small establishments including local clubs are dispatching their press releases in neatly printed letter heads.
Such practices invite questions whether the DIPR does not have computers and printers to print press releases.
Or whether the department is still respecting the value of handwritten manuscripts over the technology driven methods in vogue around the globe.
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