His babus are talking about it. And trotting out his finance minister and party president for a simple drama over marksheets was yet another instance of overkill being necessitated by absence. Perhaps it’s the persistent sharp attacks in the media and Parliament over a plethora of issues, the government has concluded that it needs to take a re-look at its communication strategy. This, to change the perception that it has now been forced on the back foot. Ahead of the government’s second anniversary, the information and broadcasting ministry has apparently chalked a new communications strategy to ensure that the right “message” is relayed to the public.
According to sources, this new plan was signed off by I&B secretary Sunil Arora a day before he retired last month. Now his successor Ajay Mittal who took over a little more than a week ago is saddled with the task of improving the Modi sarkar’s image. The major part of the new plan envisages four joint secretaries in the ministry closely monitoring the work of the information officers in the Press Information Bureau who disseminate news to the media. It also involves frequent interaction between the joint secretaries and the information officers to ensure better coordination.
Apparently Mr Arora has drawn up the plan last year after a meeting of committee of secretaries, but it met with resistance from the information babus, who perhaps resented the intrusion of the Indian Administrative Service babus in their domain. But those chinks have been now ironed out we are informed. How successful the new communication plan will be now remains to be seen.
Modi’s rural focus Handpicking superb people for sensitive jobs is the hallmark of a perfectionist, and here Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to be a stickler. Given that current indications are that the Modi government will continue to focus on rural development, it may seem surprising that the position of secretary for rural development has been vacant since January. The task has been undertaken by a string of overworked panchayat raj secretaries as an additional charge. Even the recent reshuffle that saw the appointment of 12 new secretaries, the slot at rural development ministry was given a rather categorical go-by.
Sources say that despite the importance of this post in the eyes of the Prime Minister, few senior babus have shown active interest in the job. Some who did, they add, did not meet Mr Modi’s high standards. Yet, this is likely to be the most important position in the coming years, as the government looks to drive its pro-poor and pro-rural policies. It could be the game changer, not just for Mr Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s political future but also of the person who will helm it. Meanwhile, Mr Modi continues to wait for time to produce the right babu.
Lapses in the new times A photo of Chhattisgarh IAS officer Jagdish Sonkar speaking to a patient in a government hospital while resting his foot on the bedrail created a storm on social media, especially on Twitter. The IAS Association was quick to term the act as “shocking and unacceptable”. Even chief minister Raman Singh directed that new officers be trained in social behaviour and public dealing.
Clearly, while everyone agrees that decorum must be maintained, the virulent reactions on social media were disturbing. Though Mr Sonkar issued an unconditional apology on Facebook, the issue should not have been pressed further. What was perhaps a moment’s infraction by a rookie officer should not be reason for any extended opprobrium for the young IAS officer who is under suspension now.
There is a lesson for babus too — all pervasive social media leaves little room for any error, as Mr Sonkar discovered too late. Let the matter rest there we agree.
