Information and Public Relations Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mukesh Agnihotri on Monday distributed mini laptops to the field functionaries and other officers of the department here. In the first phase, 35 mini laptops would be distributed to the officers of the department to enable them to bring efficiency in day-to-day working.
Agnihotri said that Information and Public Relations department had been playing very important role in dissemination of policies, programmes and welfare schemes of the State Government upto grass root level.
He said the website of the department had been redesigned and upgraded the data on which could be accessed in both Hindi and English languages. A mobile application had also been launched for online access of photographs and press releases in both the languages. Besides, the process was also on for developing online advertisements management software.
The Minister said to speed up the process of dissemination and gathering of information, all District Public Relations Officers, Assistant Public Relations Officers and other officials would be provided mini laptops in a phased manner. He also asked the officers of the department to have better liaison with the media persons. For this the officers should visit offices of media in regular intervals, he added.
Agnihotri said the state Cabinet recently approved new accreditation and recognition rules for the media persons which would pave way for providing accreditation and recognition to more media persons including photographers and cameramen besides international news agencies.
He said a number of steps had been taken by the state during last three years to further strengthen the department including filling up the posts of different categories, improving infrastructural facilities upto Sub Divisional level.
Director, Information and Public Relations Dr. M.P. Sood said the department would work proactive to come upto the expectations of the government. He also detailed various activities of the department and apprised the Minister regarding various welfare schemes being extended to mediapersons.