Educate people about schemes, govt tells all 22 DCS

OFFICERS ASKED TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE EVERY MONTH TO INFORM PEOPLE OF SCHEMES IN THEIR DISTRICTS

CHANDIGARH: Anxious about its dipping reputation, the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government on Monday decided that all the 22 deputy commissioners (DCS) will hold a press conference every month to inform people about ongoing schemes in their respective districts.

While directing the divisional commissioners to “closely monitor this initiative” and seeking “monthly progress report”, the state government has directed all the DCS to hold a press conference every month on a specific date. “…apprise the general public about the ongoing schemes/ plans being run in your respective district and also wide publicity be given to future initiatives/ vision of the state government,” the government said.

Asking DCS to publicise the government’s policies and schemes is a part of multipronged strategy of the government, which has been fielding one minister every week to hold a press conference.

The decision of asking DCS to hold press conferences comes after the March 20 directive of the government to DCS and SPS to spend a night at least in one village once in a month to hear and redress public grievances.

After initial enthusiasm, this move has faded.