Press Club foundation day celebrated with gusto
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 06 2010: Along with presentation of gifts to the retired senior journalists, the 38th foundation day of Manipur Press Club was celebrated at its Majorkhul premises here today.

The highlight of the day was the presents given by MANIREDA in the form of solar lamps.

The lamps were gifted on the occassion of the 38th foundation day of Manupur Press Club.

After the formation of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) in September, 1974, the need for a press club for the journalists in the State was felt.

Accordingly, Manipur Press Club was established on this day in 1975 .

VP of AMWJU and Editor of TSE Khogendra Kh speaks

Presided over by president of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU), the inaugural function of the celebration was attended by Minister of IPR, PHE & Tourism TN Haokip as chief guest and Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Bijoy Koijam as guest of honour.

Giving the key note address of the celebration, secretary of Manipur Press Club and editor of Ereibak Irengbam Arun elaborated on the change face of Manipur Press Club from what it was like in 1975 to the present day.

Now there are two halls, one badminton court and one table tennis board in the Press Club and efforts are being made for opening a multi-gym, a multi-media centre and two guest rooms apart from space for non-journalists, he informed the gathering.

While pointing out that the land on which the Manipur Press Club stands today is yet to be registered in the name of AMWJU, Arun also drew the attention of IPR Minister and the Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board for registering the existing land in the name of AMWJU and allotting some more land.

Speaking as chief guest of the function, Minister TN Haokip observed that the problems faced by the mediapersons in Manipur have increased manifold in present time.

Inspite of that and regardless of the professional hazards and dos and don'ts imposed from various quarters, mediapersons should always try to maintain journalism ethics.

Expressing concern that Manipur has become the State with minimum number of working days if the number of days on which bandhs and blockades were imposed is added to the number of general holidays announced by the Government, the Minister pointed out that the number of working days should be increased if civilisation and development is to take place in the State.

Stating that time is money, the Minister expressed unhappiness over the fact that even the children in Manipur have come to live under the impression that there is nothing wrong in tardiness.

Here media can play an important role in creating public awareness on conducting any programme on time.

Judicious use of time can take the State to the speedy path of development, the Minister hoped.

In his address as guest of honour of the function, Bijoy Koijam noted that media has an important role to play in the development of any human society as well as in the dissemination of correct information to the people.

In continuation of the celebration, the chief guest, the president and the guest of honour presented gifts to the retired senior journalists.

At time, Manipur Press Club was illuminated with lights to mark the occasion.