Government introduces automated system to manage negative press items
What's the story
Modi government has decided to follow an 'automated system' which will focus on perception-management and will keep top-ministry officials on their toes.
According to the senior officials, the new system has been introduced so that a clarification is issued to an unfavourable news item the same day.
A 9 AM call to secretaries will be the norm, if their ministry attracts any "negative" notice.
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All publicity is not good publicity
Unlike the UPA days, when the 'unfavourable' news items were countered in an ad-hoc manner, the Modi government is taking it up a notch, and will be following an 'automated system' to tackle the most pressing issues concerned with any of its ministries or departments.
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The 'automated system'
The secretaries of ministries will be on a tight leash to deliver outcomes by 2 PM as a clarification, or in the form of an action taken report (ATR).
Daily ATRs, specifying negative news and outcomes in the form of a response supplied by ministries will be sent for the review of I&B ministry's secretary.
A monthly ATR will go to Cabinet Secretary.
Strict Protocol
Ignoring a negative news item no longer optional
Under the automated system, not issuing a clarification or ignoring an unfavourable news is no longer a possibility and have to be attended immediately.
A list of negative news are compiled every day by 8 AM, following which concerned secretaries would get a call to get the task done.
A dashboard at PIB will keep track of pending items sent for response to secretaries.
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What PM had to say about the program
During induction, PM Modi said, "If we are fault, let us improve. If the news is wrong, let's rebut." Whereas I&B minister M Venkaiah Naidu's first direction was, "Anything that is incorrect should be corrected. It should not be left to exist as it is."