Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 26: A delegation of “All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union” (AMWJU), led by its President, Shamjai Wangkhemcha, today met Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed with him the prevailing situation of unrest in the State of Manipur.
In a memorandum submitted to Dr Jitendra Singh, the Manipur journalists expressed concern over the hardship faced by the people of the State as a result of the ongoing economic blockade imposed on the State’s National Highways by the United Naga Council (UNC). They were of the opinion that the recent decision by the State Government to carve out seven new districts had triggered a conflict situation which could have been avoided.
The delegation also took up some of the issues directly related to media functioning, for which they sought the Minister’s intervention. According to them, the media houses had been badly hit as a result of the UNC blockade leading to acute shortage of newsprint and other related material like printing plates, etc. In addition, they alleged that the movement of reporters to collect news has got hampered due to fuel shortage.
In a separate representation, the Manipur journalists also made a plea for the Central Government’s intervention for some of the issues pertaining to the welfare of the media fraternity. These included appropriate financial assistance for construction of a Press Housing Colony in Imphal and PIB accreditation to individual journalists from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
Dr Jitendra Singh gave a patient hearing to the Manipur journalists and said, being the members of the media fraternity and belonging to literate section of the society, their opinion holds great value and credibility. He said, he will certainly give due consideration to all the inputs received from them and would also take up the same with the Ministry of Home Affairs and other concerned agencies. He also called upon them to feel free to communicate in future as well and furnish whatever information or inputs they have at their disposal.
Besides the President of “All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union”, other office bearers who accompanied the delegation included Vice President Asem Bhakta Singh, General Secretary Jit Ningomba, Executive Members L. Shyama Kiran and Sunzu Bachaspatimayum.
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