‘IPR link between govt and people’

Parliamentary Secretary for Information & Public Relations and Economics & Statistics R. Tohanba inaugurated the two day ‘IPR Officers Conference cum Capacity Building Orientation’ at the IPR Citadel, Directorate of Information & Public Relations, Kohima, on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering of District Public Relations Officers, Information Officers, Sub Divisional Information Officers, Information Assistants, News Assistants and Language Translators from all over the state, R. Tohanba called upon the IPR officials to remember that the department serves as link between the government and the people. He said the department not only informs, but also works to ensure people’s participation in implementation of different developmental programmes and added “this task is a challenging one” due to difficult terrain, remoteness of areas and inadequate reach of communication in many parts of the state.
Terming IPR as one of the oldest department in the state, R Tohanba said the department’s responsibility and stature has also increased and urged the officials to disseminate governmental policies and programes in the right perspective.
In keeping with the state government’s declaration of 2008 as the ‘Year of Capacity Building’, he emphasized that the department should not lag in this venture and said “meaningful survival depends on ability to compete with others and the need for upgrading the skills must continue at all times.”
Also speaking at the function, Commissioner & Secretary, IPR & Horticulture, Sentiyanger Imchen, IAS encouraged the IPR officials and said “it is the zeal to perform which is required in the present day.” He urged the officials to be sincere in discharging their duties and focused on the need to adapt to the changing scenario. He impressed upon the officials and said ‘think positive and act big’.
Director, IPR, Imokokba gave an overview of the department and highlighted the various activities of the department. Joint Director, Pausui Zeliang, who presided over the meeting, said that the programme has been organized at the initiative of the Parliamentary Secretary. Vote of thanks was proposed by Joint Director, Chipeni Merry. Special songs were presented by Supongliba, IA, Mokokchung.