The Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Manipur will explore possible ways to include media persons working in the field of digital media, particularly the online news portals, while taking up the welfare programmes of the media persons in the State.
Disclosing this while addressing the first anniversary of Pothasang – an online web portal in Imphal on Sunday, DIPR H Balkrisna said he is inspired to do something for media persons working in the digital media at his capacity while framing DIPR policies.
“Since they (media persons working in news portals) are included in modern media, it will be beneficial to include them in the State DIPR policies as well as to bring a positive change,” Balkrisna said while inviting the concerned stakeholders and experts in the field for suggestions to frame a policy.
Apart from issuing Press Identity Cards, providing welfare schemes and pension and advertisement policy, the DIPR also launched Manipur Journalists’ Welfare Schemes to provide financial assistance to the eligible journalists in the State, he added.
Freelance columnist Sh Ajit while speaking on the occasion stressed the need for improvement of the web portal in the region.
He also informed the gathering about the ongoing efforts by some like-minded individuals to set up the Khelen Thokchom Memorial Trust in memory of the courageous journalist who passed away in April this year, in order to take up certain initiatives for the development the region.
Another freelance journalist RK Bobichand also spoke on the occasion.
In his speech, Associate Professor (Retired) S Indrajit of NG College in Imphal, who attended the function as Guest of Honour, said that social media is very important in today’s society.
“Media can make or break the career of high profile persons,” said Indrajit.
He expressed his appreciation to the individuals behind the web page and also applauded them for the effort of setting up the Khelen Thokchom Memorial Trust.
The function was presided by former president of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union N Tombiraj Singh and it was attended by the friends, well-wishers of the portal .
With its motto ‘Service through information’, the web portal has been rendering its services by providing State related news globally.
The main objective of the portal is to highlight both the positive and negative impacts of the society and also to motivate the younger generation follow the right path.