Northeast women issues need more in-depth coverage

The Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) has emphasized on quality and in-depth coverage of Northeast India in general and women issues in particular. The organization also admitted that the members of the forum have many things to learn from the civil society groups and media persons of the trouble torn region.

The NWMI concluded its seventh annual meet in Imphal, the capital of Manipur on March 7, where nearly 70 women journalists from different parts of the country participated. Hosted by the Network of Women Journalist in Media, Manipur, the three day meet was inaugurated on Thursday, where a number of distinguished personalities including Dr Ch Jamini (Chairman, Manipur State Commission for Women), Arun Irengbam (Editor, Ereibak), Valley Rose (Editor, Aja) etc were present.

The NWMI, which aims to provide a forum for women in media professions to share information and resources, exchange ideas, promote media awareness and ethics, and work for gender equality and justice within the media and society, has about a dozen chapters in the country.

One of the important programs of the meet was the presentation of Anupama Jayaraman Memorial Award to Alifiya Khan, a Mumbai based journalist. Alifiya, 24, who works as a senior correspondent of The Hindustan Times was selected for the third Anupama Jayaraman award for her investigative article on primary healthcare centres that exposed the shocking and pathetic state of 12 state-run health centres in the outskirt of Mumbai.

Mentionable that the award was instituted by the family of Anupama Jayaraman, who died in 2006 at the tender age of 23 years. The promising journalist Anupama’s areas of interest were human rights and justice. The award is expected to encourage young women journalists to report on those issues. The award includes a citation and a cash prize of Rs. 15,000.

The other important programs included the interaction with the eminent Manipuri theatre personality H. Kanhailal and his actress wife H Sabitri, office bearers of AMWJU, public meeting and discussion, cultural programme and the workshop on media ethics etc.

The topic of wider discussion was the security aspects of scribes in Northeast India and more precisely the role played by the women journalists of Manipur in a conflict situation for decades, informed Anjulika Samom, a coordinator of the meet.

Quoting Kalpana Sharma, an independent journalist based in Mumbai, local media reported as saying, “We all need to become sensitized with various issues and this kind of meet will definitely strengthen our network and provide more ways to support each other.”