To showcase ‘hit’ schemes, Maha govt sets aside ₹12cr for campaign

Devendra Fadnavisled Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government, which is all set to complete four years by this month end, has decided to reach out to its citizens through a special publicity campaign, for which ₹12 crore has been kept aside so far.

The campaign aims to showcase the state government’s best schemes and decisions taken during this period through all the available mass mediums such as TV channels, radio stations, cinema theatres and cable TV networks. Orders for the same were issued on October 19, 20 and 22.

Brijesh Singh, the spokesperson of the state government and head of Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR), said these orders were routine and not novel. “The state government has an annual budget of ₹40 crore for creating public awareness about welfare schemes. The orders have been issued as part of the regular programme,” he said.

According to government resolutions, the state is spending more than ₹1 crore in making audio and video advertisements for as many as 51 radio stations and 12 private channels. The campaign assumes significance ahead of the 2019 elections at the assembly and parliamentary levels. The government also plans to run its advertisements at bus stands, using LED screens, targeting the rural population.

The state transport buses are the only public vehicles that connect all the villages of the state. Doordarshan’s Sahyadri channel will also air a 13-episode programme focusing on the government’s schemes, between October and March next year.

MUMBAI:The