Union Minister for Information Dr. Pe Myint attended a ceremony yesterday morning to mark the 28th year since the foundation of the Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD). The event was held in the assembly hall of the Ministry of Information in Nay Pyi Taw.

In his address, Dr. Pe Myint spoke about the requirement for IPRD staff to make their offices central to the community. “The IPRD provides news and knowledge to the people, collect news and information, and contacts and links up with people on behalf of the government. Now, the offices are being transformed into Community Centres and are linking up people as well as people and the government. In some places, recognition is being given to those who have made such an outstanding contribution to the community centres. These peoples are to be imitated,” said the Union Minister.

The Union Minister said that staff must work to improve themselves, while carrying out their duties in the department. He said he has made this observation repeatedly, whenever he has met with staff.

“If the staff do their work with keen interest, they themselves will develop. If a staff person is doing his/her work properly and systematically, it will make others want to cooperate with him/her. This is because, such staff persons do their work not only as a duty, but with enthusiasm, as they value their work,” he said.

The IPRD is conducting children’s literature festivals, paper reading events, and literary talk circles. These works have been successful since inception because they were required and necessary, the minister said.

Children’s literature festivals have been held successfully in states, regions, and district levels, and under regional arrangement in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and relevant state or region governments. To encourage reading, an ‘All who can read should read’ campaign was held in Nay Pyi Taw in 2018.

“Public talk circles are being implemented in Community Centres. Previously, there was no practice of holding discussions or talk circles, but these are now coming into existence. The aim is to nurture the habit of free speech, criticism, and peaceful resolution of problems. Conducting discussions and talk circles helps develop the quality of the people,” said the Union Minister.

Next the Union Minister presented district level first, second and third best work conduct prizes to PyinOoLwin, Myaungmya and Myitkyina district offices respectively.

Afterwards Deputy Minister U Aung Hla Tun presented township level first, second and third best work conduct prizes to Patheingyi, Natmauk and Pazundaung township offices respectively. Permanent Secretary U Myo Myint Maung presented prizes to staffs who won in literature and photo competitions while Printing and Publishing Department Director-General U Aung Myo Myint presented prizes to outstanding staffs in training courses.

IPRD Director-General U Ye Naing also presented prizes to outstanding staffs in training courses and then presented 2,751 cloths to staffs from IPRD head office, state/region, district and township offices as commemorative gifts on the occasion of the anniversary.

A video titled “IPRD for the people” was then screened and then a prize winner said words of thanks on behalf of all the prize winners.

Finally, a lucky draw program was held where the Union Minister and the Permanent Secretary presented prizes to winner of big prizes.

After the event the Union Minister, Deputy Minister, attendees and prize winners took commemorative group photo.

—MNA 
(Translated by Zaw Min)