IMPHAL, Mar 30: The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) today submitted an 11-point charter of demands to Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, which include setting up of a press academy.
A team of the union led by its president Wangkhemcha Shamjai and advisor N Tombiraj met the Chief Minister in his office.
The charter of demands include setting up of a press academy, housing colony for State journalists, construction of journalists’ memorial complex at Thangmeiband Cheiraoching, allocation of land for establishment of AMWJU branch offices in Moreh, Jiribam and Mao, payment of Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to scribes in case of death and Rs 1 lakh in case of injury, and medical aid and family benefit schemes for journalists.
During the meeting Biren Singh assured to fulfil the union’s charter of demands, saying this would be discussed at the Cabinet level, an AMWJU statement released by its general secretary Jit Ningomba said.
It said that the Chief Minister cited the various steps, including the recently set up dedicated Anti-Corruption Cell, taken by his Government to fight corruption in the State. The Manipur Chief Minister said the Government had issued an order lifting the ban on use of mobile phones in all Government establishments from today.
In a significant step, the State Government has also taken up the task for repairing potholes on all roads in both the hills and valley. This was informed by Biren Singh to the leaders of the scribes’ body during the meeting.
He said fund for maintenance of roads and bridges will now be kept in the accounts of Government departments of all sub-divisional headquarters. Biren Singh also said that plans were afoot for construction of one Ima Keithel (women’s market) in every district headquarters. The historic Ima Keithel, the only one of its kind in Asia, is located at Khwairamaband Keithel in the heart of Imphal city.
The Chief Minister further told the union’s representatives that he had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a recent meeting with him in New Delhi to introduce a Bill in the Parliament to facilitate construction of the National Sports Academy in Manipur.
He also said the State Government has got a positive response from the Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (JAC-AATB) and expressed hope that an amicable solution would be brought soon to end the impasse.
Source: The Sangai Express
