Gogoi asks IPR Department to gear up

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 22: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Gogoi directed the Information and Public Relations Department to make all arrangements for operatiolization of all the 1,200 Fixed Loud Speakers (FLSs) across different districts by May and to bring the maximum number of gaon panchayats under the ambit of FLS by September. He also asked the department to make Raijor Batori available to the target audience.

The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of the Information and Public Relations Department at a meeting with senior officials at his official residence last evening.

The Chief Minister asked the department to gear up publicity in a big way and to dissemite information about the slew of government schemes to the beneficiaries through the district information and public relations offices.

Gogoi asked the department to come up with a media policy encompassing all publicity-related aspects. The Chief Minister asked the Additiol Chief Secretary to coordite with all departments and collect materials for dissemition among the people. An order to this effect would be issued by the Chief Minister’s Office. It was decided in the meeting that an ADC will be put in charge of Media Publicity Cell in all the districts.

The Chief Minister asked the department to convene a conference of the information officers in April. Gogoi directed the department to make arrangement for operatiolization of all the 1,200 Fixed Loud Speakers (FLSs) across different districts by May and to bring the maximum number of gaon panchayats under the ambit of FLS by September.  Gogoi asked the officials of the department to ensure distribution of Raijor Batori, a weekly newspaper, to the panchayats, schools, colleges, anganwadi centres etc.  He directed the department to prepare an action plan for putting up hoardings across the State.

Gogoi said the Mukyamantrir Sabdajyoti Achoni is a good one aimed at honing the oratorial skills of school students and said more funds would be allocated for bringing more schools under the scheme.

The Chief Minister said funds would be no constraints in carrying out publicity campaigns through various fora. In this context, the Chief Minister said that necessary orders would be issued making it mandatory for all departments to allocate at least 2 per cent of their allocations to the Information & Public Relations Department for publicity campaigns. The meeting discussed at length how to gear up massive awareness campaign on government policies and schemes. The meeting was attended, among others, by Additiol Chief Secretary, Information & Public Relations Department, Bhaskar Mushahary, Additiol Chief Secretary to Chief Minister, MGVK Bhanu, Secretary, Information & Public Relations Department, Dold Gilfillon and Director, Information & Public Relations Department, Ranjit Gogoi.