IMPHAL, November 16: The State journalist award for best editor for reporting National Integration and Communal Harmony was bagged by Ashiyo Hungyo editor Aja Tangkhul bilingual daily. The award was distributed on the occasion of National Press Day function at the Manipur Press Club building here today.
Recipients of other categories State awards were: Ksh Meghajit of Naharolgi Thoudang for Health and Hygiene reporting, Sapam Aruna of Sangai Express daily newspaper for Women and Children reporting, Longjam Arishrona of People’s Chronicle, R.K. Manisana of Poknapham daily newspaper for sports reporting, Rameshwar Puyam of Huiyen Landpao daily newspaper for Parliamentary reporting, Laishram Bijoy of Huiyen Lanpao daily newspaper for rural reporting, Meisnam Karnajit of Huiyen Lanpao for science and technology reporting.
Cash awards of Rs. 25,000 each, along with citations were conferred to the awardees.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister, Okram Ibobi, said Right to Information Commissioner Post’s is still lying vacant due to unavailability of Opposition leader in the House.
He further said that to appoint a Commissioner, the assent of the Chief Minister, the Cabinet and Opposition leader is necessary. However, due to the absence of an Opposition leader in the state Assembly, the delay in filling the post had become inevitable.
The All India Trinamool Congress Party was one of the largest opposition parties in the State, however due to the internal problem in their party, the status of the Opposition leader in the House has come under a cloud, he said, adding that PILs had also been filed at the High Court of Manipur against the government by various individuals regarding the vacant post and the High Court of Manipur had directed the government to fill up the post.
He assured that the vacant post will be filled as soon as possible to being transparency in governance.
Ibobi said that in a democracy, media plays an important role to ensure transparency so that there is live communication between the government and the people, so that development can result.
President All Manipur Working Journalist Union, AMWJU, Wangkhemcha Shyamjai lauded the awardees and also appealed to all to work hard and be sincere in their work, and not remain silent after getting such awards.
He said that in the State investigative journalist seemingly are unavailable, so it will be good to encourage investigative journalism amongst the younger lot of journalists.
In the afternoon session of the observation, a workshop on ‘Tansparency in Public Affairs: The Role of the Press’ was organised.
Pradip Phanjoubam, Group Editor of the Imphal Free Press moderated the session with paper presentation by M Saratchandra, senior Public Relation Officer of Manipur University and Dr Aribam Ibomcha Sharma, News Editor and Regional News Unit Head of All India Radio and DDK Imphal.