AMWJU condemns irresponsible act of IPR department

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 30

The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) has strongly condemned the Information and Public Relation (IPR) department for having failed to invite the union during the 2-days inter-regional media interaction programme between Myanmar and India which ended last Tuesday.

Briefing media persons today at Manipur Press Club, the AMWJU president, W. Shamjai, termed the act of IPR as an act of insult to journalist fraternity of the state.

According to Shamjai, a meeting was convened by the IPR minister, Th. Biswajit, days before the interaction was organised. During the meeting representatives of AMWJU, Editor’s Guild and Manipur Hill Journalists Union had a threadbare discussion with the minister for smooth conduct of the event, he said.

However, the IPR allegedly sidelined AMWJU by not inviting the journalist body during the 2 days event.

 Disappointed over IPR’s action, the AMWJU president said “overlooking AMWJU on the day of event is like an insult by the IPR department who is organizing the event. As a result the programme was also turned out to be ineffective”.

Nevertheless, he lauded chief minister, N. Biren for taking up such initiatives of conducting the media interaction. 

Shamjai informed that a memorandum will be submitted to the chief minister tomorrow with regards to the incident demanding action against the irresponsible officials. At the same time, a copy of the memorandum will also be sent to Press Council of India, added the president.

The president also informed that AMWJU has deposited Rs. 60 lakhs for union fund (generated from the lottery organised last year) with the State Bank of India and that an annual interest of Rs. 4 lakhs is expected from it.

The interest will be used as financial assistance for AMWJU members in case of medical emergencies besides providing financial help even for the nominee, he added.

Further spelling out steps taken up by the union with regards to the welfare of journalists, he said AMWJU is in the process to construct “Manipur Journalist Housing Colony (with a seven storey building)” at Lamphel.

Contending that there are handful of non-journalists possessing press ID cards, he appealed all the media houses to extend their co-operation in AMWJU’s process for segregation.

The president also informed that AMWJU will conduct random drive against individuals misusing “PRESS” sticker.