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| Information Dept has no information on normalcy | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 13: The government and its agencies are desperate to trumpet what they call return of normalcy. The Chief Minister, his ministers, the DGP and other bureaucrats issue statements to make outside world believe that normalcy was round the corner. But the state information department, it seems, is not impressed. Or does it hold a contrary view?
The official website of the government of Jammu Kashmir is designed, maintained and upgraded by the information department. Normally the information department works round the clock to keep the ministers and bureaucrats in good humor. Besides sending statements on activities of ministers through email to newspaper offices, the officials of the information department make it a point to visit the offices in person to ensure proper coverage of the statements. The department cannot afford to miss anything. The ministers, before having breakfast, look for their statements and pictures in the newspapers and shortcomings, if any, are taken serious note of. But, the website does not provide any information on a vital issue- Jammu Kashmir towards normalcy. The website says it is under updation (SIC). Surprisingly nobody has taken note of the shortcoming till date.
The Information department, it seems, does not subscribe to the view that state was fast returning to normalcy and is, therefore, in the process of deciding what material to put on the official website. The people, for the information of the information department, are not interested in how many veterinary camps were inaugurated by an honourable minister in one month. Nobody wants to know where a minister went yesterday or where he intends to go tomorrow. People, by and large, are interested in knowing how the conflict torn state was returning to normalcy. How many people got killed in 2008 and how many died in 2009. Foreigners who watch Kashmir developments are interested in the over all security situation, data on arrests, killings and violence. Whether the graph has registered an increase or has gone down can convey the message in clear terms. It cannot be conveyed by rhetorical statements of politicians and bureaucrats. Shockingly the official website of the state does not even have the statements on normalcy.
Human rights groups have the data and have made it public as well. If the information department does not have the data then it is not needed at all. The Chief Minister must disband the department. Can a cash starved state like Jammu Kashmir afford a huge department for publicity of activities that make no difference to the commoner?
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