Journalists to be declared frontline warriors

IMPHAL, May 6 (DIPR)
Chief Minister N Biren Singh has announced that the Government would declare working journalists of the State as frontline warriors and they would be vaccinated on priority.
The Chief Minister said that the Government is aware of the risk involved in collecting and disseminating news to the public at this time of pandemic. Coronavirus is highly contagious, and working journalists may get exposed to the virus any time in the cause of their professional activities. As such, the Government feels that it is important to take up necessary measures for their personal safety considering the invaluable service rendered by the media fraternity to the society, he said.
The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting many people in the State, and one cannot predict with certainty how long it (Covid pandemic) would last. As this difficult time, the media fraternity have a very crucial role to play in fighting the pandemic by circulating authentic information to the public, observed N Biren.
Director (IPR) would co-ordinate with journalist bodies and tie-up with the State Mission Director, NHM (National Health Mission) for vaccination, he said.