Tribute paid to journalist Khelen Thokchom

Imphal: Renowned journalist Khelen Thokchom was remembered on his 64th Birth Anniversary with a two-day media workshop inaugurated at the Manipur Press Club, here on Sunday.

The event, organised by the Khelen Thokchom Trust (KTT) with the support of the Manipur Committee for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) and the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA), opened with a floral tributes to the departed journalist.

MCPCR chairperson Keisham Pradipkumar highlighted an alarming trend in social media, where videos involving interviews or depictions of children’s hardships are being shared for fundraising.

He emphasised the psychological impact of conflict on children, noting that as many as 25,000 children are currently internally displaced in Manipur due to the ongoing crisis.

Tauma in children often lasts much longer than in adults and urged the media to focus on child rights issues, which have been largely overshadowed by coverage of Manipur’s political crisis, he said.

The workshop aimed to equip journalists with a better understanding of child rights in conflict situations and legal reporting, promoting ethical and responsible journalism in these challenging times.

The second day will feature EGM secretary Yumnam Rupachandra and advocate Hijam Chandrakumar, who will speak on “Legal Reporting.”