Officials and participants during the media workshop ‘Vartalap’ held with the media fraternity of Dimapur at Hotel Saramati on July 19. Organised by PIB Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Kohima, it was held on the theme ‘11 Years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Government.’
• PIB highlights role of fact checking & media tools
• PIB Kohima holds VARTALAP dialogue in Dimapur
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 19
A one-day media workshop ‘Vartalap’ was held with the media fraternity of Dimapur at Hotel Saramati on July 19. Organised by the PIB Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Kohima, it was held on the theme ‘11 Years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Government.’
The event was graced by Amit Shukla, Lt Col PRO Defence-Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and Pavni Gupta, Joint Director, HoO PIB North-East Zone, Guwahati, as the guests of honour.
Addressing the event as the chief guest, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Dr Tinojongshi Chang acknowledged the PIB Kohima, for organising the workshop. Such events, he said are vital for the media to disseminate a wide range of information, from government programmes to policy initiatives to the public. He hoped that this kind of workshop will not only enrich media fraternity, but also serve as a bridge to reach people across both urban and rural areas.
Dr Chang highlighted numerous programmes that improved the lives of citizens during the past 11 years of PM Narendra Modi Government, which were implemented in towns, villages and colonies. He maintained that the media is a channel through which these programmes can truly reach people, whileat the same time it can highlight positive success stories of individuals and communities from such initiatives, which often go unheard.
“These real-life examples can motivate others, especially those in remote or rural areas, to take part and benefit as well,” Chang said. He believed that in the long run, it will contribute to the economic and social development of the Naga society.
India’s armed forces are technologically advanced, future-ready, and gearing up for integrated, multi-domain operations, said Lt Col Amit Shukla in his address.
He highlighted that enhancing jointness among the military services is a top priority, with steps underway to establish Integrated Theatre Commands. He also emphasised the growing focus on cyber and space domains, alongside technologies like AI, robotics, and hypersonics.
Shukla pointed out that inter-service cooperation and joint training are fostering operational synergy, while defence acquisition reforms are making processes faster and more transparent. He noted that private sector involvement is being boosted to strengthen self-reliance and innovation.
He stated that India is actively working toward becoming a credible global defence exporter, supported by indigenous R&D, international partnerships, and veteran expertise.
Speaking about the NCC Training Centre, Shukla said its mission is to build discipline, leadership, and character among youth. “We aim to be a premier cadet institution that bridges quality and accessibility in public education,” he added. Shukla expressed confidence that this year’s reforms will be a turning point in India’s defence modernisation, rooted in national pride and aligned with global best practices.
He said that the armed forces are aligned with the nation's transformative journey, and the media serves as a bridge between the forces and the people.
During the technical session, Pavni Gupta, Joint Director and Head of Office, PIB North-East Zone, Guwahati, spoke about PIB Fact Check and related developments. She explained how media personnel and the public can access verified information and high-quality images of national events through the PIB website. She highlighted that PIB Fact Check was initiated in November 2019 to combat fake news on social media and help journalists stay vigilant against misinformation.
Gupta also emphasised the role of Prime Minister’s Mann Ki Baat in disseminating information about key government schemes and programmes. Additionally, she introduced PBSHABD, a new newsfeed service by Prasar Bharati, which provides daily news updates from across India. This service currently operates through a robust network of 15,000 reporters.
Dr Khelito Zhimomi, Joint Director, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, discussed the implementation of various health schemes in Nagaland, particularly under the Health and Wellness Centre initiative. She elaborated on Ayushman Bharat, PMJAY, and CMHIS, highlighting both the challenges faced and the successes achieved in the state’s healthcare delivery.
K Sonikumar Singh, Asst Director, PIB Kohima chaired the event and acknowledged all the stakeholders for taking part in this crucial event.
Meanwhile during the workshop, Army medical team led by Captain Narendra Ningthoujam, Medical Officer, Rangapahar Military Station conducted a health camp. Around 40 media persons and officials availed the benefits.
