Imphal, November 01 2010: With an appeal to all concerned to allow media houses and journalists to work freely, Information and Public Relation minister, TN Haokip, inaugurated the State Information Day celebration at DIPR complex, Moirangkhom today.

On the occasion, seven journalists were conferred State Journalist Awards-2010 as part of recognition of their contribution in different fields.

Three including editor of English edition of Hueiyen Lanpao were among the seven proud recipients of this year's state journalist award conferred by the DIPR on this day every year.

Hueiyen Lanpao (English) editor Brozendra Ningomba was conferred with best editor award for National Integration and Communal Harmony.

This is the third time he has received the best editor award.

The other two recipients from Hueiyen Lanpao were sub-editor RK Sanatomba, who won the Award in Sports and sub-editor Enaomacha Salam in Art & Culture.

Other awardees were L Samungou, reporter of Sangai Express in Rural Reporting, RK Bulu, reporter of Poknapham in Public Health & Hygiene and Dhamendro Wangkhemcha, reporter of Kangleipakki Meira and N Philips, news reader and reporter of ISTV (joint winners) in Special Reference to Women & Children.

The Awards, which carry a citation and Rs 25,000 in cash each, was handed over to the awardees by the Information & Public minister TN Haokip at the function.

He also announced that from next year journalist writing in the field of science and technology will also be given awards.

Speaking as chief guest at the function, the information minister said that journalists and media houses should be allowed to work freely without any interference from a second party.

They should also discharge their duty in an unbiased manner.

Referring to frequent disturbances given to journalists and media houses by underground organisations, the minister said that there should not be any kind of pressure given to the media houses.

It is not a sign of a civilized society.

Journalism is a profession fraught with difficulties and journalists are working confronting all odds against them.

This should be known to all and everybody should avoid giving hindrances to them in the discharge of their duties.

If the media is not there, democracy will be meaningless, he said.

He also asserted that development in the state can be brought about only when government and media go hand in hand.

Awardee Brozendra Ningomba, speaking on the occasion, expressed gratitude to the panel of judges for selection of awardees for selecting him for the third time, two times consecutively, 2009 and 2010 .

He further thanked the authority concerned in the government for giving awards to journalists every year recognizing their services in the society.

He also urged to extend the award to the journalists writing in the field of science and technology and education.

In his presidential speech at the function, commissioner (DIPR), L Lakher observed that there is a wrong impression among the masses that government and media are in a confronting mood.

This is not true, there are many fields where government and media go together, he clarified.

He also expressed his belief that journalists should not go beyond the ethics of being a journalist referring to what he called "paid news".

Retired Commissioner (IPR), Bhorot and retired news editor of AIR Imphal Seram Mangi were also on the dais in the function.

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