First one a flop, UPA plans new publicity blitz

In particular, several ministries like Home, Rural Development, Social Justice and Welfare, Coal, Chemical and Fertilisers, External Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Petroleum, Science of Technology, and the Department of Space found no mention. Even the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) was excluded in the hurriedly conducted exercise. Also, some of the listed achievements were later discovered to be highly inspired by the booklets brought out by the NDA, sources said.

In fact, celebrations to launch the booklet were kept deliberately low-key as the publicity material did not come up to the mark.

Information officers, this time around, have been specifically asked to prepare brief write-ups on the policies, programmes and achievements of the Government.

‘‘The narrative form of the script may not be more than two-three pages. The script should also be reduced to a short write-up in the bullet form putting the news items in the descending order of importance,’’ a report says.

The information officers have been asked to submit their write-ups by November 16.

The latest publicity stunt comes after the directive issued by the secretary, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, asking various departments of the Government to add shine to its achievements on a weekly basis.

The reports would be forwarded to the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. Even the autonomous Doordarshan has been asked to broadcast four-minute programmes listing out the Government’s achievements.