Information and Public Relations Minister, James P K Sangma today inaugurated the new office building of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Meghalaya at Lower Lachumiere, Shillong.
The construction of the building got underway in 2016 at a total cost of approximately 10.50 crores. Besides the office of the DIPR, the building also accommodates the offices of the Passport Seva Kendra, Civil Task Force, Meghalaya Editors and Publishers Association (MEPA) and the Shillong Press Club (SPC).
In his inaugural address, the Minister congratulated the Secretary, Director, officers and staff of the Directorate, former IPR Ministers, former Additional Chief Secretaries in-charge IPR, former Principal Secretaries, former Commissioner and Secretaries, Secretaries, Directors and all officials, serving and retired who have worked hard since the commencement of the construction and until the inauguration of the office building. He said that the building will open up a new space for commitment and importance, designed to meet the increasing demand and expectations of I&PR.
Being the Press and Publicity Wing of the Government, the Minister said that DIPR has a crucial role to play in day to day governance at various levels upto the grass roots with the programmes and policies of the Government being made accessible to the citizens of the State through its various units including the Press Unit, the Advertisement Unit, the Publication Unit, Field Publicity Unit, Technical Unit and others.
The Minister said that with the changing times and evolving dynamics of communication, there is a need to upscale efforts at all levels in terms of service delivery while also stating that the evolution of social media has brought about new challenges as well as opportunities to governance and expressed the need for bringing out reforms in service delivery in the interest of the citizens of the State.
On the occasion, the Minister also commended the officers and staff of DIPR who have been working tirelessly to ensure timely dissemination of important Government information during the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the State and Country.
Others who spoke at the programme include Secretary, I&PR, Matsiewdor War Nongbri and Director I&PR, B S Sohliya.
