Bhopinder Singh to inaugurate Andaman's Bharat Nirman PIC on Nov 20

Port Blair, Nov 05 (UNI) The five-day Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign of Andaman, which was earlier postponed due to cyclonic weather conditions, will now be inaugurated by Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Bhopinder Singh on November 20 at Diglipur.

Talking to the government media unit at Raj Niwas, the Lt Governor stressed the need for greater awareness about various people-friendly welfare schemes of the Centre.

''There are a number of good schemes for the rural and urban poor. But, unfortunately the level of awareness about them is very low,'' Mr Singh added.

The lack of awareness, the Lt Governor said, hinders the proper implementation of the schemes depriving the targeted beneficiaries.

''It is where the media can play an important role by not only highlighting various schemes but also the shortcomings in their implementation. The PIB, being an interface between the government and the media, can play an even greater role in this regard,'' he added.

The Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign, the Lt Governor underlined, must not remain confined only to five days. It has to be a continuous process throughout the year, informing and educating the masses, with a periodic review of the campaign.

''The major implementing departments - Education, Social Welfare, Tribal Welfare, Health - must join hands with the publicity agencies to popularise the welfare schemes of the Centre,'' the Lt Governor underlined.

Meanwhile, the Andaman PWD has completed the construction of 40 exhibition stalls, a stage and pandal. Various departments of the UT Administration, Centre, banks, insurance company, Postal Department, Andaman and Nicobar Command, Coast Guard, NGOs, Self Help Groups, Mahila Mandals will be showcasing their achievements, besides informing and educating the rural folk about Flagship Programmes of the Centre.

A number of seminars and workshops will also be held during the course of the five-day mega rural event for the benefit of people from different walks of life, including farmers, fishermen, PRIs and students. Cultural evenings and film shows will also be held daily for the people's infotainment.

A team of Song and Drama Division, Kolkata, and officials of Directorate of Field Publicity have already left for Diglipur today to do pre-PIC publicity programmes in and around Diglipur.

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