Imphal, March 09 2009: Gaining many insights about how people, especially women journalists of Manipur cope with everyday strife in covering conflict issues, the three day long seventh annual conference of the National Network in Media, India (NWMI) concluded here on March 7 with a hope to create a strong network of solidarity with them.

Held from March 5-7 at the Retreat House, Mantripukhri, Imphal with participation from around 70 women journalists across India representing diverse languages of the country, the landmark event was hosted by the National Network in Media, Manipur chapter.

NWMI is a national network that aims to provide a forum for women media professionals to share information and resources, exchange ideas, promote media awareness and ethics, and work for gender equality and justice within the media and society.

"For many of us this has been our first visit to Manipur and the Northeast region and it has provided us an incredible opportunity to interact with its people.

We feel particularly privileged to have been present when Irom Sharmila was released from the J..NHospital in Imphal where she has been detained because she has been on an indefinite fast demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958. Today marks the 8th year that she has sustained this protest.

We were also inspired to meet the Meira Paibis, the women who have been on a relay fast for 88 days in support of Sharmila," a communique issued on the occasion of the meet by the NWMI representatives stated.

The women journalists' representatives also expressed concern over the people of the Northeast, especially the women, who have lived in a conflict situation for more than six decades while also adding that the reality of what they face has not impinged on the consciousness of the rest of India.

"We are deeply concerned about the long-standing recourse to the AFSPA in a situation that requires serious and sustained political, economic and social initiatives in partnership with local communities," the statement of the representatives maintained.

The representatives have also shared their thoughts on how the Network can bring quality and depth coverage of this region so that the rest of India understands the realities on the ground.

At the same time, as situations of terror and conflict increase in other parts of the country and journalists grapple with the challenges of covering those events and their fallouts, the Network also believes it has much to learn from their journalist colleagues in the Northeast.

"We have gained many insights about how they cope with everyday strife in covering conflict issues and we hope to create a strong network of solidarity with them," the NWMI affirms.

Among others, the representatives of the NWMI who have participated in the three-day long journalist meet here include Ammu Joseph, Independent journalist, Bangalore; Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborti, Independent journalist and filmmaker, Kolkata; C Vanaja, Independent journalist and Film Maker, Hyderabad; Charumathi Supraja, Independent journalist, and Consultant - Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), Bangalore; Kalpana Sharma, Independent journalist from Mumbai and also the Board of Directors, International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF); M Suchitra, Editor, The Quest Features & Footage, Kerala; Sameera Khan, Independent journalist, Mumbai; Sandhya Taksale, Executive Editor, Saptahik Sakal, Pune; Teresa Rehman, Principal Correspondent, Tehelka, Guwahati, Assam; Thingnam Anjulika Samom, Freelance journalist, Manipur; and Dr.Vidhulata, Editor, Aurat, & Vice President of the Working Journalist Union, Madhya Pradesh.

The three-day long women scribes Meet was marked by interaction with AMWJU, presentation of Anupama Jayaraman Award, public meeting, discussion on NWMI, cultural programme, workshop on media ethics, presentation on conflict situation in Manipur, discussion on gender and status of women in Manipur, sharing by victims of the conflict situation, and interaction with dramatist Padmashree Heisnam Kanhailal and his wife-actress Padmashree H Sabitri.

Comment