UP govt to use social media to propagate welfare schemes

Apparently taking a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's use of social media, Uttar Pradesh government has decided to take to Facebook and Twitter to inform people about various welfare schemes and achievements.
A directive in this regard was issued today to all principal secretaries and secretaries by the Chief Secretary (CS) Alok Ranjan during a meeting for 'Publicity through social media'.
The directive issued instructions to provide information regarding decisions taken by the government, welfare schemes and achievements directly to the people through social media.
"All principal secretaries should nominate a nodal officer in their respective departments for social media work and their names, mobile number and email-id should be sent to Director, Information," he said.

He said it would be mandatory for the nodal officer to send approved information through his Principal Secretary on the email id of the Information Department in Hindi and English the same day.
The CS said it would be mandatory for every department to send a tweet regarding welfare schemes and achievements at least once in 15 days. The officer would also have to send the scanned copy of the order concerned with the tweet.

Alok further said that after receiving the tweet it would be posted on Facebook and Twitter by the nodal officer nominated by Director, Information.
Explaining the move, Alok said complaints were often received that people were not getting timely and correct information regarding the government's welfare schemes and its achievements and orders.

Therefore, publicity of the schemes should be ensured by maximum use of social media, he said.
Apart from disseminating information, use of social media would also help in establishing direct interaction with the people, the CS added.