Information and Public Relations Department

Policy Note - 2002-2003

INTRODUCTION

We are in the age of communications. With the advent of modern science, the quality and magnitude of reachability of structured information has assumed staggering proportions. 'Information and Public Relations’ can be rightly termed as 'Yesterday's Science' and today's 'Technology'. But it always remains as an art by itself.

The stupendous progress made in Information Technology has led to a great revolution in Mass Communication and Public Relations.

Communication field has undergone a sea change due to modernisation and its phenomenal growth influences the entire gamut of human resources development.

The word 'Makkalatchi' inTamil comprises of two words-Makkal  (people) and Atchi (The Rule or the Government)

The shorter the distance between the people and the Government, the greater is the success of democracy.

It is the foremost duty of the Information and Public Relations Department to bridge the distance between the people and the Government.

For accomplishing this task, the department has to equip itself with the latest know-how in the fields of Communication and Presentation and it has to re-orient and train the personnel to keep abreast  with the changing trends in Mass media, publicity methods and appropriate communication techniques.

The Department is determined to make use of the modern media to publicise the messages on all the schemes formulated for the benefit of the poor and down-trodden in the nook and corner of the State.

The Information and Public Relations Department in the year 2002-2003 shall strive to achieve its cherished goal of bringing the Government and the people closer to achieve the best results in public awareness and participation in the development and welfare schemes.

Chapter - 1

JOURNALIST WELFARE - Press Release Section

Press Release Section

Newspapers, Periodicals, Televisions and All India Radio play an important role in strengthening the relationship between the people and the Government. The Press Release Section in the Secretariat plays a vital role in developing such relationship by disseminating information about the developmental activities of the Government through various media.

Press releases and Press notes from Hon’ble Chief Minister’s Office, Ministers’ Offices and various Government departments regarding Government welfare schemes, achievements, plans and programmes are sent regularly to nearly 100 media organisations such as daily newspapers, news agencies, television channels, visual news agencies, All India Radio and online news organisations through fax, e-mail and in person by this section.

Press meets are also arranged for the Hon’ble Chief Minister and Ministers by this section. Important announcements and press releases are being sent to the Information and Public Relations Offices in the districts for immediate release in the local press.

Moreover, black and white as well as colour photographs of important occasions, functions, meetings of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Ministers and Secretaries to Government Departments are sent to dailies and journals and visual clippings of these functions are sent to television channels. This section also makes necessary arrangements for the T.V. crew and the photographers of dailies and journals to cover these programmes.

Press Accreditation

About 416 media persons such as reporters, photographers of dailies, All India Radio, Doordarshan, Tamil Nadu Films Division and officials of the Information and Public Relations Department have been issued Press Accreditation Cards this year. The Press Accreditation Cards are given as per the recommendations of the Press Accreditation Committee every year.

In accordance with the announcement made by Hon’ble Chief Minister, the media representatives of private T.V. Channels are also now provided with accreditation. So far 128 persons were issued accreditation cards, under this category.

Free bus passes to travel in Government Transport Corporations, 50% rail travel concession and priority both in Government Housing and Telephone facilities are being provided to the holders of Press Accreditation Cards.

 Press Pass to Reporters of Periodicals

About 123 reporters of periodicals have been issued Press Passes so as to enable them to cover Government functions, VIP visits and press conferences of Hon’ble Chief Minister and other Ministers.

Journalists’ Family Benefit Fund

Journalists’ Family Benefit Fund is given to the family of Editors, Sub-Editors and Reporters of Press who served for 20 years and above and who died during the period of their service. At the time of introduction of this scheme in 1997, Rs.25,000 was given to the family of the deceased journalist from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. At present Rs.50,000 is given away as family benefit fund.

Pursuant to this announcement made by Hon’ble Chief Minister in the previous Budget session, the Journalist’s Family Benefit Fund has been given a quantum increase, from Rs.50,000 to Rs. 2 lakhs, with effect from 4.9.2001.

Journalists’ Pension

In 1986, Journalist Pension Scheme was introduced by Dr. M.G.R., the then Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the benefit of the retired journalists in indigent circumstances. At the time of introduction, Rs.250 was given as pension per month. In the following years this amount gradually rose to Rs.2,000 per month and 72 retired journalists are receiving pension. In pursuance to request by the presspersons for further enhancement of Journalists’ pension and as announced in the Assembly during the budget speech of 2001-2002, journalists’ pension has been increased from Rs. 2000 to Rs.3000.

Journalists’ Family Pension

Journalist’s Family Pension was introduced in the year 1998 and is intended to provide succour to the family members of the deceased journalist pensioner. It remained without any enhancement all along. Hon’ble Chief Minister conceded to the long standing demand of various journalist forums and announced enhancement. Accordingly orders have been issued increasing the family pension amount from Rs.500 to Rs.1500 per month.

TNHB flats/houses under Easy Instalment Scheme for working journalists

A comprehensive easy instalmant scheme for the journalist to purchase flats/houses built by T.N.H.B. has already been announced. This scheme is drawn up in coordination with State Bank of India. This is in fulfilment of the budget announcement for this year, 2001-2002.

Photo Wing

Photographs of the important Government functions attended by Hon’ble Chief Minister, Hon’ble Ministers and other VIPs are arranged through the Photos Wing of this department. They also concentrate on important developmental and other welfare schemes of the Government. These photographs are ultimately released to the press and journals for publication.

A new digital camera with accessories has been purchased for the photo wing, which enables the instant release of clear and good quality photographs to the Press through e-mail.

Computer and Photo Copier Machine for Press Release Section

A Computer with latest accessories and a Photo Copier Machine have been purchased under Part - II Scheme 2001-2002 for the use of Press Release Section.

Exclusive Webstreaming at a cost of Rs.25 lakhs

Hon’ble Chief Minister has directed the hosting of an exclusive webstreaming at a cost of Rs.25 lakhs for Information and Public Relations Department which will enable the immediate receipt of press releases and photos by the Press and Media organisations. This broadband webstreaming will also be useful both to the press and the public.

The website of the State Government hosted by NICNET is being tested with positioning of press releases and photographs.

Modern Media facilities for District Information and Public Relations Offices

Computer facility to all District Information and Public Relations Offices

Computers with accessories will be installed in all the 29 District Information and Public Relations Offices at a cost of Rs.29 lakhs.

Photo copiers for District Information and Public Relations Offices

13 Districts which have not been provided with photo copiers so far will be given photo copiers at a cost of Rs.13 lakhs. When this is done all the District Information and Public Relations Offices will be having photo copier facility.

Photo Dark Room facility to District Information and Public Relations Offices

10 District Information and Public Relations Offices will be provided with Photo Dark Room facilities at a cost of Rs.10 lakhs.

Fax facility to District Information and Public Relations Offices

13 Districts which have not hitherto been provided with fax facility will be provided with fax machine at a cost of Rs.3.25 lakhs. With this all the Districts will be connected by with fax machines.

Chapter - 2

government functions

To remember the leaders and intellectuals who made their contribution to the Indian Freedom struggle and to the Tamil language, Government of Tamil Nadu make arrangements for garlanding their statues besides conduct of birthday functions and death anniversary.

The statues of the leaders are being garlanded :

During the Thiagigal Dhinam on July 17th last year statues of Thiagi Sankaralingam and Thiyagi Arya alias Bhashyam in the Gandhi Mandapam complex were garlanded.

The birthdays of the leaders were celebrated in the Districts last year.

1.  Veerapandia Kattabomman Birthday was celebrated on 12th May at Panchalankurichi, Thoothukudi District.

2.  Mahatma Gandhi Birthday was celebrated in Chennai and in all districts on October, 2.

3.  Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar Birthday was celebrated in Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts on 30th October.

4.  National Re-dedication Day was observed in all districts on 31st October in rememberance of Former Prime Minister Tmt. Indira Gandhi.

5.  Mootharignar Rajaji Birthday was celebrated on 10th December at Thorappalli  in Dharmapuri district.

6.  Maha Kavi Bharathiar Birthday  was celebrated on 11th December at Ettayapuram in Thoothukudi District.

7.  “Valvil Ori Vizha” was celebrated on 3.8.2001 in Kollimalai Hills at Namakkal District.

8.  “Sadhavadhani Seigu Thambi Pavalar” Birthday was celebrated on 10.8.2001 at Nagarcoil, Kanniyakumari District.

9.   200th death anniversary of Maruthu Pandias was conducted on 24.10.2001 at Trippathur, Sivagangai District.

10.  The birthday celebrations of ‘Rebel’ Muthuramalinga Sethupathi will be celebrated very soon. It has also been decided to conduct this function on the 30th March, hereafter.

11.   Veeran Azhagumuthukone Birthday function will be celebrated very soon. It has also been decided to celebrate this function on 31st March every year.

Thanthai Periyar, Dr. Ambedkar, Thiru Vi.  Ka., Bharathiyar, Bharathidasan, Ki.Aa.Pe. Viswanatham Award distribution function was celebrated on 24th December at Chennai. 

Multimedia publicity campaign

Publicity regarding the schemes and activities of the Government is carried out in co-ordination with various departments through Multi Media Publicity campaigns and mini exhibitions. During these programmes, Publicity are being carried out through Video Programmes.

During the Mass contact programmes held at every month under the Chairmanship of the District Collector multimedia publicity campaigns are being held. Government Welfare assistances are also distributed. The petitions received from the public during these campaigns are forwarded to the concerned departments for taking necessary action.

More than 12 Multimedia Publicity Campaigns were held in each District in Panchayat Union level for the use of the Public. It is proposed to conduct more campaigns during this year.

District Publicity Co-ordination Committee

For dissemination of Information to the people in District  regarding Government Schemes and developmental activities and qualification for the welfare assistances publicity campaigns  are carried out by various departments. In order to intensify the activity a District publicity co-ordination Committee was constituted in all Districts under the Chairmanship of the Collector. The Committee convened once in a month under the Chairmanship of the collector. During the meeting various methods for the publicity of the government schemes will be discussed and publicity campaigns are being carried out accordingly and effectively.