The Minister for Information and Public Relations D K Aruna on Tuesday informed that the vacant posts in the department would be filled up– 50 percent through direct recruitment and the remaining 50 percent on out- sourcing basis.
The Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the functioning of I and PR department with officials in the Secretariat here.
Speaking to the media after the meeting Aurna said that the Chief Minister has directed the strengthening of I and PR department, and making it to effectively publicize and propagate the government schemes and development projects. He directed the I and PR department to procure the required infrastructure and equipment in this regard.
The Chief Minister has directed the officials to set-up the various committees on Journalists’ issues at the earliest. He has agreed to increase the corpus fund of journalists welfare from Rs. one crore to Rs two crore, the Minister said.
Kiran Kumar Reddy has also accepted the proposals for modernization of public address systems at various I and PR offices in a phased manner. He also directed that steps should be taken to release the advertisements through I and PR department only.
The Minister also informed that the Chief Minister has accorded permission for filling up of vacant posts in the department. Stating that at present 68 posts were vacant under different categories, she stated that 50 percent of these posts would be filled up through direct recruitment and 50 percent through outsourcing.
The Chief Minister also accepted the proposals for release of 2.54 crores by the Finance department for journalists’ health insurance scheme. (NSS)