The Information and Public Relations Department
functions as a bridge between the Government and the people. The Department shoulders the
onerous responsibility of disseminating various programmes, schemes and decisions of the
Government and the welfare works undertaken by it among the people through media.Today it
is sensitive and a powerful tool of communication. The media is as much sensitive as it is
powerful .In such a situation the responsibilities and activities of the Department have
assumed greater significance.
The department takes
the message of the Government to the people through newspapers, radio, TV,
films-documentary, exhibition and songs & drama. Besides, it also brings out different
publicity-oriented publications for this purpose. The number of small and medium news
papers is very high in the country, specially in Uttar Pradesh. Endeavorin of the
department is to provide all possible facilities to the newspapers and journalists so that
they not only take the messages of the government to the readers but also provide new
directions to the medium of expression. For this purpose teleprinter services had been
started in many districts for the convenience of small newspapers.
The Uttar Pradesh Government has started pension/accident insurance scheme for working
journalists, Besides, provisions have also been made to provide medical facility up to Rs
50,000/= through the Uttar Pradesh working journalist welfare society formed by the
Government to the working journalists for heart, cancer and kidney diseases. To provide
necessary facilities to the journalist, committies headed by the districts magistrates and
SSPs /SPs have been formed at the district level.
A pension/grant scheme is being implemented by the Department for the journalists who
contributed through their writings in freedom movement.
It has become important to collect information, update it and preserve it for future
references. At the same time, it has become all the more important to receive this
information and transmit it immediately. To achieve this goal, the functioning of the
department is being computerised.
Our Publication Bureau performs the job of informing the people about
Government policies, schemes, programmes, achievements, etc. through printed literature.
Besides, periodic publications, books, booklets, folders, handbills, posters, albums, etc.
are published. In addition to this, the speeches of the Chief Minister are also published
besides regular publications of the Department. "Uttar Pradesh Sandesh", a
monthly newsmagazine which has its reach up to village level and a literary magazine
in Urdu "Naya Daur" are also the Department's prestigious regular publications.
The department publishes "U. P. Annual" in Hindi and English, an informative
diary as well as Panchang.
District Information Offices have been set up in almost all the districts. These district
units release press notes on the development works being implemented in districts, and
schemes and policies of the Government. Besides, they also organise publicity seminars at
districts level. The information center at Delhi does public relation for the state.
Keeping in view the interest of the people of Lucknow, a State information Centre has been
set up in the state capital. The Centre caters to the literacy, cultural and social
requirements of the people. The center has a
big library having rare books which have proved very useful for scholars and the
candidates appearing in competitive examinations. The Center has also gazettes, rules,
acts, reports, etc. for persual of the readers and visitors. It also has a section for
children and music lovers.
Under Songs & Drama scheme the government's policies, decisions and
achievements are publicised through folk cultural programmes such as Birha, Alha, Bhajans,
Kawwali, Puppet show, etc. For this purpose cultural troupes are selected at district
level which have appeals in local areas.
The Department organises Exhibitions on different subjects in rural and urban areas
of the State from time to time. These exhibitions have proved to be very useful in
disseminating the message of the Government. All the districts have been made available
the exhibit kits. There are four mobile exhibition vans in the department for exhibition
purpose.
The department participates in National festivals such as "phool walon ki
sair", Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti at the State and national
levels. This year the State presented its tableau, "Prayag Kumbh Mela" at the
time of the Republic Day parade held in Delhi. In the Republic Day parade held in Lucknow,
its tableau "Residency" bagged the first prize
The developmental works of the Government, its achievements, schemes and programmes as
well as tender notices, appointments, notifications etc. are publicised through advertisements
in newspapers.
The Photo-Film unit is engaged in publicity of Government's schemes, programmes,
policies, etc. through graphs photo films. Besides, documentries are also being produced
for this purpose.
Scrutiny Section is an important wing of the department. In the section all the
newspapers and magazines published in the State are scrutinised and the reports relating
to public grievances, complaints, appreciations etc. brought to the notice of the
Government. The unit scruitinises about 3,000 newspapers and magazines of National and
local levels .
It also assesses the newspapers for empanelment of government advertisements and
press accreditation.
Reference Section stores the reference material on the different sectors and topics
on the State. The section is equipped with about 17,026 books and Government reports.
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