An Orientation programme for KPC-NBOCWWB (Kohima Press Club-Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board) Media Fellowship 2024 was held today at KPC Office Kohima for the three recipients.
Speaking on the occasion, CEO, NBOCWWB, Chubayanger commended all the fellows who wrote in-depth stories as part of the fellowship in the last two years and exuded hope to see more exciting stories coming up for this year’s edition.
He highlighted that the Board is looking to get construction workers on board while stating that their earnings are temporary. “The entire process in the Board is about providing social security to these workers and their families”, he said. He also dwelt on the challenges with regard to registration of workers as many of them have no papers or required documents.
Besides this, he said many people who are not construction workers have also come on board through some means. In this regard, the Board is also trying to streamline the genuine workers.
The CEO further briefed on the schemes under NBOCWWB. He was accompanied by Deputy CEO NBOCWWB, Er. Vikeheto Naki.
General Secretary, KPC & Convenor, Fellowship Committee, Vishü Rita Krocha gave a brief background on how the the Media Fellowship was initiated in the year 2022 under the chairmanship of Dr. Kekhrie Yhome and has seen two successful rounds as a result of which very enlightening and crucial stories were produced.
She thanked the CEO NBOCWWB, Chubayanger under whose leadership, the fellowship has continued into its 3rd edition this year and for providing the opportunity for journalists in the state to explore an area that has been sidelined for so many years.
This year, she said the Committee members were thoroughly impressed with the story ideas that the selected fellows pitched for the fellowship. Among others, the fellowship stories will feature the lives of construction workers on the Kohima-Dimapur four-lane highway delving into their working conditions, safety risks, wages, and welfare, while exploring the broader issues of labor rights in the landslide-prone areas.
In her closing remarks, Alice Yhoshü remarked that the KPC-NBOCWWB is the only media fellowship that has been running for the third consecutive year. While citing the remarkable stories that have been produced over the last two years, she stated hope for a continued partnership with the NBOCWWB.
Senior Journalist & Member of the Fellowship Committee, H. Chishi also spoke on the occasion.
The recipients of the fellowship signed the Agreement during the programme and also recieved partial payment towards the fellowship.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Medolenuo Ambrocia, Member, Fellowship Committee. There was also an interactive session as part of the orientation programme.