Imphal, November 16: Along with a seminar on the theme of 'Media as people's voice: Pre and Post Independence', the National Press Day, 2007 was observed at Manipur Press Club here today.

The event was organised jointly by the Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Manipur and All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU).

Information and Public Relations Minister TN Haokip, PDA Chairman Dr Kh Loken Singh and Commissioner of Information and Public Relations H Devasekhar Sharma were respectively chief guest, guest of honour and president of the function.

Speaking at the occasion, TN Haokip pointed out that the print and electronic media in Manipur has an important role to play specially in the present context of the prevailing law and order situation in the State.

Therefore the people and the Government should extend their co-operation to the media in disseminating correct information to the public.

However, over and above reporting matters related to economy, health care system and developmental issues related to women and child, there is the need to publish the comments of the experts on various important issues plaguing the State today, the Minister said.

The Minister further observed that free and fair media is one of the important ingredients in a democratic country and without it democracy is not complete.

So, Government and private organisations as well as all the people should respect the freedom of media, he added.

Dr Kh Loken noted that there is no freedom of press in Manipur today and this is a great loss.

The first session of the seminar held as a part of the observance function was conducted with media expert Seram Mangi as moderator.

Presenting a paper on the topic of 'The ideals of freedom of press in the context of Manipur' during the first session of the seminar, Editor of Hueiyen Lanpao Brozendra Ningombam said although 15 to 16 newspapers are being published in Manipur which has a total population of over 23 lakhs, only 7 to 8 percent of the total population read these newspapers with consciousness and understanding.

In such a situation where not many people are in the habit of reading newspapers, the importance of freedom of press is being ignored. As a consequence, functioning of the newspaper houses in Manipur is being disrupted from all quarters including the people, the Government and other private organisations.

Inspite of the cries for freedom of press in Manipur right from the Government officials and Minister to the social organisations and the people, no one has real concern over this issue and they are giving only lip services.

Otherwise, newspapers would not have been compelled to go off the print from time to time, he pin-pointed out.

Not many people also raised their voice when their right to information is deprived when the publication of the newspapers ceased under such circumstances.

As a result, mediapersons in Manipur are facing various problems in performing their duties, Brozendra added.

In the afternoon session of the seminar, editor of Ereibak Irengbam Arun and Prof Kh Bimola Devi of Department of Pol Science, Manipur University presented papers on the topics of 'Status of women in Manipur before and after independence' and 'Role of media in moulding the new social, political and economic order in Manipur (Post independence)' respectively.

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