Naidu asks I&B Ministry officials to prepare info and commu

Hitting the ground running, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today directed officials in his ministry to prepare a comprehensive policy on information and communication at the earliest.
According to I&B Ministry sources, Naidu this moring held a 90-minute meeting with heads of different departments in which he raised a fundamental issue on whether there is a government policy on information and communication.
"Apparently, there is no such policy document. So, the minister directed I&B officials that a policy be prepared at the earliest," a senior official said.
The policy will specify role and responsibilities of various organisations and stakeholders with the objective of maximising the communication outreach to the people, he added.

"The minister also directed the officials that a concrete and achievable way forward should be prepared for the next three years," the official, who was present at the meeting, said.
Aiming to cut delays and red tape, Naidu, who took charge of the I&B Ministry from his cabinet colleague Arun Jaitley on Wednesday, also made it clear that files shall be cleared at all levels quickly and in no case they should be held for more than a week.

"In case of delay, the reason for holding back the file should be mentioned or indicated on it," the official added.

Naidu has also sought a detailed presentation on the functioning of Prasar Bharati and its achievements in the last 5 years, an official said.
He also asked I&B Ministry officials to prepare the agenda for various policy and sectoral issues.
Naidu told the officers that development and good governance is the mantra of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and added that best efforts should be made to empower people with information so that the intended change can be carried out.