Information & Public Relations Departmen

PROFILEThe Information & Public Relations Department (I & PR) is the nodal agency of the Government of Mizoram for disseminating information on various activities of the Government to the people through the media and providing feedback to the Government on important matters reflected in the media. In addition, it is also the authoritative and official publicity agency of Government of Mizoram.The Department plays a pivotal role in the promotion of schemes and policies that lead to a greater and better understanding between the Government and the people. It also works as communication medium between the Government and Media and plays a vital role in taking the welfare schemes to the people.With the atmosphere of peace and a new era for development, the Department strives to promote Mizoram, "The Land of Peace and Progress" to the millions of people around the world. Therefore, the Department of Information & Public Relations is charged with multifarious duties of creating awareness among the people about the nation, the state, its history, diversity, heritage, traditions, its development in various fields and its problems. It disseminates information about the Government, its activities, policies and programmes and also solicits and motivates the public to participate in the national endeavour for the integrated development of the state. It also gives feedback to the Government about its activities. All these involve public relations work such as multi-media publicity campaign, coordination with various departments, the press, AIR, Doordarshan and Local Cable TV operators.The Department is headed by a Director, assisted by two Joint Directors, four Deputy Directors and 16 IPROs. District Headquarters at Lunglei, Saiha, Lawngtlai, Champhai, Mamit, Kolasib and Serchhip are manned by IPROs. All the officers of the Department belong to the Mizoram Information Service (MIS) cadre.The Department functions with PR wing, Photo wing and Technical wing for the above media operation.If you would like to contact us, we assure you that we do not resell, distribute or disclose your mail address in any form. Instead your comments, suggestions, or feedbacks will be used exclusively to provide you with better service.

The Department of Information, Public Relations & Tourism came into being when   Mizoram became a Union Territory in 1972. The first Director of the Department  Pu R. L. Thanzawna who was an Assam Civil Service Officer took charge of the Department on 1 st May 1972. Around this time, the Mizoram Government Press was also started under the aegis of the IPR & T Department. In the later years, Tourism and Printing & Stationary became separate Departments and the Department then finally became Information & Public Relations Department.In the trying years of the Insurgency period, the Department had to face a lot of hardships and challenges, so much so that once Pu R. L. Thanzawna who was a part of the entourage of the first Lt. Governor Shri S. P. Mukherjee was ambushed near Zanlawn. Luckily he escaped unhurt. To ease the monotony of curfews and to bring a sense of normalcy, the Department besides its

official functions, organized Beat Contents, Cultural Exchanges, Exhibitions, Study Tours, Winter/Christmas fairs and various other such programmes.During the insurgency period, the Information & Public Relations Department had worked successfully to win over the hearts and minds of the people of Mizoram which slowly culminated in bringing the underground elements and the Government to a negotiating table.  The Department was instrumental in mobilizing the people including church leaders and voluntary organizations to participate in the endeavour to bring about lasting peace which is conducive and a pre-requisite for all round development. These efforts resulted in the signing of the Peace Accord which to this day is claimed to be the most successful Peace Accord. Likewise in the Post Peace Accord era till today, the Information & Public Relations Department has been continuously reaching out to the people through various media, mitigating many pressure groups and communicating the futility of violence in any form.

FUNCTIONS

The Department discharges the following key functions. Effectively propagates ideals, policies and programmes of the Government. Carries information on the schemes of the Government to the doorstep of the people. Effectively using mass media for dissemination of information. Creating awareness among the people particularly among the rural masses about the

welfare measures through publicity. Disseminating policies and programmes of the Government through Print, Electronic

Media advertisements, exhibitions, publications, traditional media and others. Gives feed back to the Government from Press, Prepare Press Clippings for various

ministries. Acts as a nodal agency for release of advertisement of various Government Department. Printing of Government publication such as Diaries, Calendars, Booklets Pamphlets,

Posters, Portraits and others. Enforces Press Accreditation Rules and grants accreditation to Journalists Production of documentaries on famous personalities/Success Stories/Departmental

Achievements. Organizes discussions and Seminars on Current Affairs. Provides press coverages to official Government functions and programmes, VIP and

VVIP Visits Provides News Video Clippings to National and Local Channels.