Early Times Report
Jammu, June 29: Vested interests in the Department of Information are allegedly creating hurdles in the re-organization and restructuring of its vital Field Publicity Units, which have become fountain heads of corruption for the officers at the helm of affairs.
In the name of awareness programmes and other activities, operations of the Field Publicity Units involve annual expenditures worth crores of rupees and hence augment a perpetual source of corruption for some officers in the Department, sources alleged.
There are two Filed Publicity Units, one each at Jammu and Srinagar, which are operating under the supervision of the Field Publicity Officers while at district level, the Field Publicity Units are manned by the respective District Information Officers.
At the present, the Field Publicity units are organizing awareness programme in collaboration with the Directorate of Field Publicity, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, besides installing public address system at the venue of the Government functions throughout the State and for special events, including conferences and conclaves being organized in J&K as well as for the Independence Day and Republic Day functions.
Besides, the Field Publicity Units were tasked with screening of film documentaries, skits and organizing exhibitions in the remote areas in collaboration with the Exhibition wing.
In view of the role of the field Publicity Units, it is most significant wing of the Department of Information and hence a proposal for restricting of the same was prepared by the Government. However, according to the sources, some officers at the helm of affairs who feel that restructuring of the unit could dry their source of corruption, were allegedly creating hurdles in the re-organization.
Now when the State is under the Governor's rule, some insiders in the department feel that the proposal may see light of the day. |
