Central schemes may soon have ‘PM’ prefixed to them

All Central government schemes may soon have ‘PM’ or the names of nationalist leaders prefixed to them and films highlighting the achievements of the Narendra Modi dispensation shown “mandatorily” before screening of movies in every theatre.

These are among a set of recommendations made by the Group of Ministers set up to suggest ways for increased visibility of Central government schemes and achievements in states and districts.

The internal note circulated at a meeting of the GoM chaired by Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has also recommended creating animation clips of various achievements of the government highlighting the “difference between the past and present” in a “humorous way”. It has suggested roping in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for execution.

The GoM has suggested producing a film every two weeks to highlight the government’s achievements which will be played out before every film in every theatre “mandatorily”, for which again it has recommended taking I and B Ministry’s help.

Against the backdrop of allegations that state governments often take the credit for central schemes, the GoM has recommended that the inauguration of central schemes should be done in presence of Union ministers and MPs so the role of Centre is highlighted.

It has also recommended enhancing the authority of MPs by giving them constitutional right to carry out checks on execution of the schemes and build in a system of penalties enforceable by Centre whenever there is lack of efficiency in execution of a scheme. 

If the recommendations are implemented, the monitoring committees in districts for the schemes will be headed by MPs.

Currently these are headed by District Magistrates or Superintendents of Police.

As per the note, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is amending the rules to allow MPs to head the committees.

Keen to augment its presence in the media, the GoM has recommended that every minister should give a minimum of two interviews every week to the National Broadcasters-- Doordarshan and All India Radio--, besides a particular news agency. 

“Each achievement must be released to media to create three to four different news items at different period of time such as at the stage of planning and conceptualization of the project, modification of the proposed project based on people feedback or expert advice, project launch or scheme execution and impact assessment (positive stories with real characters),” said the note circulated at a GOM meeting.