The Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Government of Manipur, launched the official Facebook page “DIPR Manipur Fact Check” alongside a one-day awareness programme on its welfare schemes at the DIPR Auditorium in Imphal today.
Fact-Check Page Unveiled
Secretary, IPR, Hungyo Worshang, IAS, as Chief Guest, formally unveiled the page, aimed at authenticating and verifying government orders, notices, circulars, and more. He spotlighted the “growing challenge of misinformation in the digital era”, urging verification of news sources, images, and videos while calling on media houses to back initiatives like this to stem false information.
AI Era Demands Vigilance
Addressing the media, Director, IPR, Th. Charanjeet Singh, MCS, stressed fact-checking’s urgency amid artificial intelligence, where “distinguishing real from fake information has become increasingly difficult”. Misleading content, rumours, and false news, he warned, “incite misunderstanding amongst people and [pose] a huge threat to peace and progress”.
Journalist Welfare in Focus
The media awareness drive also sought to spotlight DIPR schemes, ensuring benefits reach deserving journalists. Nodal officers from departments will verify documents before dissemination to avert mistrust and unrest from fakes, with stakeholder suggestions invited to bolster the effort.
The afternoon featured a media sensitisation session on DIPR’s support schemes. Officials detailed the Journalist Pension Scheme, Welfare Scheme, Press Identity Cards, accreditation, and Manipur State Journalist Awards.T. Ramesh Singh, Additional Director (IPR), covered the “Manipur State Journalist Awards Scheme”; Ph. Sheityamala Devi, Deputy Director, DIPR, handled the “Manipur Working Journalists Welfare Scheme”; while Ningthoujam Roshan Singh, Assistant Publicity Officer (Press), DIPR, presented on the “Manipur Working Journalists Pension Scheme” and “Granting of DIPR Press Cards to Working Journalists”.
The event wrapped with lively interactions between media personnel and DIPR officials, including the Director, Additional Director, Deputy Director, and APO (Press).