DNA: Mumbai: Sunday, September 13, 2015.
The amount
spent on the one-day 'message to the nation', addressed by prime minister
Narendra Modi has cost Rs8.30 crore, revealed information accessed under the
RTI Act. The application was filed by activist Anil Galgali with the
information and broadcasting ministry.
Galgali said
the 'Mann ki Baat' programme in which the prime minister addressed the nation
through various mediums.
The activist
added that the deputy director-of advertising and visual publicity, Nitesh Zha,
gave a reply that was not satisfactory, and hence, he filed an appeal with the
director, Ravi Rama Krishna, after which correct information with accurate
figures was made available.
In all, in 14
stages of 4,094 advertisements published or shown, Rs8.29 crore was spent. When
probed further as to who the makers of these advertisements are, it was
revealed that it was the advertising and visual publicity department.
"On what
basis the PM addresses the public, as and when need arises, through efficient
officers, the decision is taken on three parameters occasion, importance of the
day, and requirement. These parameters are decided by the efficient manpower
working on this subject day in day out," said Krishna.
Addressing
the nation is solely the responsibility of Centre's advertising and visual
publicity department, and we are doing it with utmost perfection, he added.
Galgali,
however, alleged that in newspapers the rates for advertising for the
government (Directorate of Advertising & Visual Publicity) are low as
compared to the rates kept for the common man, and yet the amount spent on the
address is so high, with the benefits for the public being zero.
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