Fitting tribute paid to late Journalist Khelen Thokchom on his 63rd Birth Anniversary

Khelen Thokchom Trust (KTT) observed the 63rd Birth Anniversary of late senior journalist Khelen Thokchom at his Tera Tongbram Leikai residence in Imphal West District on Friday (October 27).
Members of KTT, family members and relatives, members of local Meira Paibi body, and members of Youths’ Forum Tera Tongbram Leikai took part in the day’s simple but meaningful observation.
Floral tribute was also aid to the statue of late journalist Khelen Thokchom.
Khelen Thokchom passed away on April 1, 2018. During his tenure as a journalist, he served The Telegraph as a Special Correspondent.
Addressing the gathering, advisor of KTT Irengbam Arun, who is also the editor of the Imphal Free Press editor, retold the special dedication of Khelen and his contribution to society through his writings on newspapers and magazines. He appealed to the journalist’s fraternity to report with an investigation.
Journalist Taorem Biswajit Singh of the vernacular daily-Sanaleibak who is the KTT Media Fellow for the year 2022-23, recalled his associations with Khelen and the latter’s guidance in the reporting arena.
Biswajit was honored with a warm reception for his reports on “Challenges in Sustainable Agriculture in Manipur’s Limited Paddy Land Resources” under Khelen Thokchom Media Fellowship programme 2022-23.
The area under agricultural activities in the state has been reduced due to various factors including construction of buildings and industrial establishments. According to the 2021-22 report of the Agriculture Department, the agricultural land in Manipur is 1,95,000 hectares. As per the statistics of Land Use and Land Cover in Manipur, the agricultural land area was 1,81,690 hectares in 2017-19, providing the actual agricultural land, said Biswajit, who has special experience in reporting on Agriculture.
He suggested multiple cropping in the state against wasting of time in farming while waiting for the next paddy season.
General Secretary, KTT, Sobhapati Samom, said Khelen Thokchom Media Fellowship was instituted in an effort to translate the dreams of Khelen into reality by accelerating the writing skills of the young reporters and also to support in compilation of their research-based reports.
The day’s gathering also observed a minute’s silence praying the almighty for Atom Samarendra-a member of KTT, who went missing since May 6 during the Manipur crisis.
The Khelen Thokchom Media Fellowship programme for 2023-24 has been suspended temporarily in view of the current crisis.