Addressing the officers of the security forces today during a three-day training programme entitled 'Media Relations during Crisis Situation' Mizoram director general of police (DGP) Lalrokhuma Pachuau expressed concern about the importance of maintaining good relations between the police force and the media, especially in times of natural calamities and during crisis.
The three-day training programme has been organised by Mizoram Police Department in collaboration with Indian Institute of Mass Communications (IIMC), New Delhi which started today in Aizawl.
The Mizoram police chief said in today’s world the media has become very powerful and could help the men in uniform to bring about peace and harmony. "In times of crisis, the police has to know how to deal with media, what to say and what to show to the public, and hence, a media relations training for the police is crucial for their effective and positive response whenever such situations arise," the police officer said.
IIMC senior-most professor KM Srivastava said that IIMC has been conducting such trainings for police forces all over the country and the current training at Aizawl is the 22nd in a row. Media today, he said, cannot be “managed” and that is why it has become even more important that the police maintain a good rapport with the media.
The training programme for police officers was initiated by IIMC Special Officer (Mizoram) and Press Secretary to CM, L R Sailo. Besides officers from the Mizoram Police department, the training also includes officers from Assam Rifles, BSF and CRPF serving in the state. Resource Persons during the training will be Prof. KM Srivastava, Visiting Professor with IIMC Gopal Mishra and NDTV correspondent Arvind Uttam.