Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, November 01:
Celebrating the information and public relation day here with staff of the District Information Office, journalist fraternity based in the hills today articulated in no uncertain terms their annoyance with the Government.
Addressing the gathering at the DIO office L Chinkhanlian, editor of the Manipur Express and president MHJU enunciated the competence media in the hills and Churachandpur in particular has attained today against numerous odds.
Despite it, he said, the State Government has so far sees no reason to enrich the subsistence of the fourth estate here.
"The DIO is functioning only for name sake, with skeletal staff sans catalyst" he said adding, the Chief Minister himself is contradicting his speech to action.
He wondered what the Government has done for the hill journalist or media to have them bestowed equal treatment with their counterparts in Imphal.
Even the basic symbol of an office, the type writer is not available at the DIO office here.
Teleprinter, photographer, reporter, information assistant has once been stationed here, but only the Government can explain why they have been withdrawn.
A couple of staff, now three with the recent posting of Ch Noyum Singh as ADIO are the only staff here with a roll film camera as their only equipment.
Besides, their corroded single room office is a mere extension of the District Council town collection centre.
With atleast five dailies published from the district, Churachandpur was badly in need of fully functional DIO capable of performing in its true sense of the term, if not something more than a DIO.
Another headache for the media here � entirely vernacular dailies, is the provision of tolerating only Manipuri and English articles for any form of honor awarded to journalist in the state.
That is, until that time Manipur amends its existing provision, the media community here during their entire life in service will never be capable of receiving any form of honour from the Government.