Imphal: Manipur must pick up the pace on news delivery. Advisor to the Chief Minister, Oinam Sunil Singh, demanded faster access to government data for local media outlets during the 78th Information and Public Relations Day on Monday. He spoke at the DIPR Auditorium in Imphal, Nityaipat Chuthek. The state needs to revive news dissemination in the Manipuri language to connect the 36 communities of Manipur.
Sunil wants officials to craft a digital media policy. He proposed a registration system for digital outlets to gain official recognition and oversight. Secretary of IPR Neeta Arambam echoed these concerns. She argued that the department must evolve beyond simple press releases. "DIPR’s role should extend beyond issuing press releases and function as a bridge between the government and the people," she said. The department must manage the flow of information in both directions.
Misinformation remains a constant threat in the digital age. Arambam pointed to the department’s new website as a primary tool to fight false reports with accurate facts. Additional Director W. Phajatombi Devi defended the agency against staffing shortages. She noted that the department continues to cover major state functions regardless of the lack of personnel. The agency traces its history back to 1949, before it became a full Directorate in 1974 and spread to district headquarters in 1975.
The event concluded with an awards ceremony. Retired officials and top-performing staff received honors for their service. Media representatives and pensioners watched as Additional Director T. Ramesh Singh gave the final vote of thanks.
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