IMPHAL, February 4: A two-day interface of the media and the NGOs on the theme ‘Media in mediatory roles’ was inaugurated today at the Department of Mass Communication, Manipur University.
The inaugural function was attended by Manipur University vice chancellor HNK Sarma, vice-chancellor as the chief guest and DIPR director Salam Somorjit as the president.
The Telegraph Nagaland correspondent H Chishi, Manipur Hills Journalists Union president Sothing Shimray, Dimapur Press Club, Nagaland general secretary Paudi Renta and Hueiyen Lanpao former editor Bharatbhushan attended as the guests of honour.
Discussions following presentations from Dr Achan Mungleng and Atina Kamei dwelt on the perceptions of development and the exploitation by the State in the name of development.
They presented research findings and observations on conflict emanating from oral traditions of management and contemporary laws governing land and natural resources in the hill areas of Manipur.
A documentary on Mapithel dam was also shown on the occasion.
Bharatbhushan moderated the interactive discussions which focused on the case of Mapithel Dam.
Several people voiced the State’s deliberate attempt to create conflict within the affected population to divide the united confrontation as a classic case of development injustice.
The two day programme which aims to focus on the mediatory role of the media in facilitating peace process in the protracted violent social and political conflicts in Manipur, was participated by editors, senior journalists, reporters and officials of DIPR besides students of the Department and the members of the NGOs in partnership.
The programme is jointly organized by Department of Mass Communication, Manipur University, All Manipur Working Journalist Union, Manipur Hills Journalist Union (MHJU), Women in Media Network, India, Peoples’ Dialogue Initiatives and Volunteers for Village Development, Ukhrul in collaboration with ActionAid Association, Regional office Guwahati and Henry Martin Institute Hyderabad.