Shillong, October 9: The Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Government of Meghalaya, on Friday organised the DIPR Conclave 2026 at the State Guest House in Shillong, bringing together departmental officials and media stakeholders to discuss ways to strengthen public communication, institutional coordination and digital outreach.
Held under the theme “Strengthening DIPR: Building a Responsive, Connected and Future-Ready Information Service,” the conclave was the second edition of the initiative, following the inaugural edition held on March 5, 2025.
The discussions focused on improving coordination within DIPR, expanding digital outreach, strengthening media relations and rapid-response mechanisms, and enhancing institutional capacity. The conclave also adopted resolutions intended to guide the department’s future communication priorities.
Information and Public Relations Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, who attended as chief guest, stressed the importance of maintaining a cordial relationship with print media and publishers and ensuring that factual information reaches the public.
Rymbui said the department has adequate resources and urged officials to think “out of the box” and explore innovative ways to improve the dissemination of factual information. He also cautioned against the influence of social media on public thinking and urged people to be careful about the information they consume.
The conclave featured five sessions covering major aspects of modern public communication. These included “One DIPR Newsroom” on integrated news gathering and dissemination, “Digital Reach and the Federated Channel Network” on expanding digital outreach, and a session on media relations, rapid response and public communication policy.
Another session focused on institutional capacity and the DIPR roadmap, while the fifth involved a stakeholder dialogue with the Shillong Press Club and the Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association on media relations, information dissemination and public communication.
Commissioner and Secretary for Information and Public Relations Vijay Mantri described the media as the fourth pillar of democracy and stressed the need for clear and accessible communication.
He highlighted DIPR initiatives including the Journalist Welfare Scheme 2024, pension support for senior and retired journalists, and the Journalist Welfare Fund. He also called for stronger fact-checking mechanisms and greater public reliance on credible media organisations.
Representing the Shillong Press Club, General Secretary Dominic Savio Diengdoh called for improved access to information, regular briefings, timely responses to media queries and continued training for journalists in both urban and rural areas. He also highlighted the need to strengthen journalist welfare, particularly for reporters working in remote areas.
Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association Treasurer Deimebanda Blah called for stronger district-level communication, a centralised portal for government press releases, regular briefings and the establishment of a fact-checking cell within DIPR.
The adoption of conclave resolutions was described as a key outcome of the event, providing a framework for stronger coordination, institutional development and more effective public communication across Meghalaya.
