SHILLONG, May 31: The Meghalaya Editor’s & Publisher’s Association (MEPA) held its Annual General Meeting today , at Shillong Club. The meeting discussed upon several key issues concerning the Meghalaya press fraternity and fervently appealed to the state government for the required assistance.
On these appeals, Meghalaya Minister in-charge of Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) A.L. Hek, who was the chief guest on the occasion, assured his full support. Reminding that media is one of the pillars of the democracy, Hek stressed that media is equally responsible in building the State as much as the State government is. He urged the media persons to be sincere, positive in their reporting and ascertain the facts before publishing them.
On MEPA’s long pending demand of having a single window system in DIPR for clearance of government advertisement bills, Hek felt that implementation of single window system would benefit both the media houses and the government. Earlier in the day, MEPA members resolved to conduct a State Level Workshop to generate awareness on Media Law and Grievance Redressal pertaining to news reports. MEPA decided to write to Law department on the method of handling grievances so that judges are made aware of procedures before they accept cases against media houses.
The meeting also resolved to meet Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to allow accredited media persons to enter the Assembly while it is in session on the face value of accreditation card issued by DIPR. On the implementation of Wage Board, the meeting resolved to apprise the State Government on the current status of the Writ petition against the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board recommendations and allow the President and General Secretary to represent the Association to the State Tripartite Monitoring Committee.
The meeting further resolved to approach State government to extend more support to local media then to regional or national media to strengthen local media, and to approach the State to implement Single Window Agency within six months time. Also, it was discussed that electronic media, news agencies and news portal should also be recognized by MEPA.
Additionally, MEPA elected its new office bearers. The newly elected MEPA office bearers are, President—R.M. Shabong, Vice President—D.L. Siangshai, General Secretary—George B. Lyngdoh, Jt. Secretary—Rajoo Sharma, Treasurer—A.L. Lapang and ten executive members -D. Shira, C. H. Passah, M.M. Thaiang, Lambok Thabah, Prof Thomas Lim, Philip Philip Marwein, V. Nongsiej, Anthony N. Nongbri, S.S. Syiem and Starfing Pdahkasiej.(SP News)
