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Alemtemshi Jamir, IAS (Rtd), addressing the gathering during the IPR officers’ conference and orientation programme held in the Conference Hall, IPR Citadel, Kohima on March 14.[/caption]
Dimapur, March 15 (EMN): Sensing the need to keep up the pace in dissemination of information in this fast-changing world, a two-day information and public relations officers’ conference and orientation programme on the theme “Government media in the age of acceleration” was held in the Conference Hall, IPR Citadel, Kohima on March 14 and 15th.
Exposing the theme of the programme, Alemtemshi Jamir IAS (Rtd) told the gathering that ‘in the age of acceleration, we cannot stay idle; we have to participate and grow along with it or we will be nowhere,’ informed an update from DIPR. He said that “the age of acceleration is here to stay and therefore we have to think on how to cope with it” and that “everything that is happening globally is also affecting us here in Nagaland.” He went on to say that in this fast-changing age, “we cannot just sit and listen but we should act.”
Stating that social media has a great power and potential of mobilising opinion but is not capable of sustaining or arriving at a consensus, Jamir said that “finding a solution of how to control the social media and to see that it does not go out of control is another role the department has a part to play.” He also stated that one cannot be just a mute spectator but should be alert and “start working in disseminating information about important issues that is affecting our society.”
Asserting that Nagas have to change and move forward in the age of acceleration, Jamir is of the opinion that “Nagas should start paying tax and start having ownership in the roads and development.” He said that taxation will help the government or people to judge whether a person has disproportionate income.
Jamir told the gathering that “media should be ahead, thinking and producing and government media has a big role to play.” He added that media views should have “clarity in the age of confusion” and “values in the age of chaos.”
Commissioner and secretary, IPR, V. Maria Yanthan told the officers that “we should keep ourselves up to date as the world is moving in a fast pace” besides reminding them that “they are the mouthpiece of the government and has to play an important role in disseminating information to the people especially at the grassroots level.”
Maria congratulated the department for the Naga news app, saying that many rely on the application for news and information. She also said that more conference and orientation programme for the officers and staff should be organised in the future too to refresh and upgrade their skills.
While speaking about the vision of IPR, APRO Atuzo mentioned that the department should disseminate information through social media sites like Twitter, Instagram etc. He stressed on the role that the department can play in visual media because of the impact that films and videos have in the society, especially among the youths. He went on to say that the rural sectors have infrastructure set up, like Community Information Centres where they can get up-to-date information and news.