Imphal, September 24: The media workshop on the �Role of media in development of North East region� concluded today at Aizwal with recommendations for implementation of Right to Information Bill passed by Parliament recently in the North East States at the earliest possible and introducing a welfare scheme for journalists in the region by the North Eastern Council (NEC).

Around 200 delegates from various media organisations in the North East took part in the two-day long workshop organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Government of Mizoram under the auspices of North Eastern Council.

On the last day of the workshop today, Tehelka correspondent Nitin Gokhale took the chair while Director in-charge of NEC Hangjo and Director of DIPR, Mizoram, Sailo attended over the session as presidium members.

After serious deliberation on a wide-range of problems and issues, the workshop passed a declaration called North East Summit Declaration and made various recommendation to the North Eastern Council for consideration.

The recommendations include implementation of Rights to Information Bill in the entire North Eastern States (the Bill has been already implemented in Assam), constitution of a Journalist Welfare Scheme, setting up of a co-ordination committee for information sharing, upgradation of the DIPRs of the North Eastern States, improvement of relationship between the respective State Governments and the media houses to maintain transparency in developmental works and organising the regional seminar on rotation basis, among others.

During the two-day long workshop, delegates coming from different parts of the region discussed many burning issues of the region and the shared problems being faced by them in smooth dispensation of their duties.

Among other burning issues, the delegates stressed on the need for withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act not only from Manipur but also from the entire North Eastern region.

The delegates also made special mention about Imphal correspondent of ANI and Assam Tribune Sobhapati Samom who is presently undergoing treatment at AIMS, New Delhi.

Comment