Imphal, June 30: Sanatomba Memorial Journalist Award for the year 2007 has been conferred on Ng Liklaileima.

a staff reporter of The Sangai Express in appreciation of her in-depth reporting on women and child issues.

Along with offering floral tributes to the photograph of RK Sanatomba by many people, the award was presented to the recipient by Mangishija, mother of late RK Sanatomba during an impressive function at Kangla Hall here today.

Organised by RK Sanatomba Memorial Trust, the award presentation ceremony was attended by noted historian Prof Gangmumei Kamei as chief guest and president of Irabot Foundation, Manipur Thounaojam Iboyaima as functional president.

Speaking in connection with presentation of the award, convenor of RK Sanatombi Memorial Trust Dr RK Nimai observed that Liklaileima has been honoured with the award for the year 2007 for her in depth reporting specially on women and child issue.

Delivering the presiden-tial address of the function Iboyaima stressed on the role of media in Manipur and said that it can play an important role in instilling a sense of cultural affinity among the people, specially among the younger generations.

As part of the award presentation ceremony, editor of Imphal Free Press Pradip Phanjoubam presented a talk on the topic 'Constraints in reporting in Conflict situation'.

He said that it is difficult to understand whether democracy really exists in Manipur today or not.

Democracy does not mean only the conduct of election to elect the representatives of the people.

Many of the smaller issues and problems have not yet been solved in Manipuri society even as the people have least concern on respecting the rules of law.

So in such a situation, journalists are facing an up-hill task in performing their duties, Pradip said.

Assistant Editor of Huiyen Lanpao Dhanabir Maibam, who also delivered a talk on the topic of 'Problems facing journalists in Manipur' pointed out that the problems being faced by the journalists in Manipur are numerous ranging from undue pressure from proscribed UG groups, NGOs, law enforcing agencies and security forces.

Maintaining that such undue pressures and interferences on the work of the journalists is detrimental to the growth of the society, he also pointed out that journalists should also not cross the line of their professional ethics while performing their duties.

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