The 43rd Foundation Day of Manipur Press Club was held under the aegis of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) at its premises located at Majorkhul in Imphal on Saturday.
Manipur Assembly Speaker Yumnam Khemchand Singh, State Forest and Environment Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar, AMWJU president Wangkhemcha Shamjai attended the function as Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and president respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Khemchand shared the grievances faced by the journalists’ community in the State. He also asked Minister Shyamkumar to remind the plight of journalists in the Cabinet meetings to meet their demands.
He also said that journalists have a big role in bringing good governance in the State and electing of a good member. He appealed the media persons to take seriously the electoral behavior of the State and change the present trend of election system to make Manipur a better state as the Election Commission monitor the election expenditure minutely but not the huge sum that has been expended outside the State.
In his speech, Shyamkumar said media is the eye and ear and the strength of the media is the strength of the Government. The country and particularly Manipur will develop when the media is strong enough to report the truth only.
He added the plights of the journalists put up by the members of the media fraternity will be looked into and take action immediately consulting with the Chief Minister and the concerned authorities. He said media persons should have the courage to report boldly and appealed the media persons, on a friendly note, not to work on assumption but to find the facts first and report with documents regarding government departments.
AMWJU president Shamjai also spoke on the occasion wherein he informed the gathering that the one-time pension of the journalists will begin from next year.
Ex-presidents, former secretaries of AMWJU and newly affiliated district correspondents were also felicitated during the day’s observation which was attended by many AMWJU members and others.