New I&B Ministers To Focus On Proactively Combating Fake News And Negative Perception Of Govt In International Press

Newly appointed Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Anurag Thakur and Minister of State (MoS) L Murugan held extensive review meetings of the ministry and have focused on ensuring effective communication by government departments of the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

Two-three departments have been directed to make detailed presentations to the minister daily. Moreover, each official has been tasked to put forth practical and innovative ideas to improve the ‘brand of the country.’

Thakur has also mainly demanded enhanced communication by government departments regarding the measures they took to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

He has also emphasized refuting any negative perceptions regarding the government, including that in the international press.

“The way PIB of every department communicates has to be more enterprising and suited to contemporary needs... the ones who understand this have to be promoted and there should be training for the rest,” one of the senior officials in the know of the developments told The Economic Times.

Also, the new ministers will be looking to combat how the international press exploited the pictures of Indian crematoriums amidst the second wave of the pandemic a few months back.