Finance
Odisha will create a specific social media policy for government communication and build a strong digital information network linking district offices to the state headquarters, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated on Friday.
Majhi stated while speaking to Information Service Officers at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre that the state government will implement a stringent fact-checking system to combat misinformation and rumors spreading on digital platforms.
Highlighting the necessity to adjust to evolving communication trends, the Chief Minister noted that social media and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms have become essential for public interaction, especially among the younger population. Government communication systems need to adapt to these changes to guarantee efficient outreach, he stated.
Majhi characterized the current time as a phase of social media and the creator economy, stating that mobile phones had transformed into multifunctional devices for news, entertainment, and communication. Consequently, government information officers need to advance beyond merely distributing press releases and build proficiency in contemporary communication techniques.
He emphasized the significance of monitoring social media and practicing social listening to grasp public sentiment, recognize individuals’ worries, and address emerging issues quickly.
The Chief Minister stated that communication from the government must adhere to three principles: accuracy, speed, and simplicity. He warned that although inaccuracies in official statistics and data were intolerable, delays in sharing information could lead to a gap that could be taken advantage of to propagate false narratives.
Majhi advocated for increased utilization of storytelling to convey the effects of government programs, asserting that beneficiaries’ experiences could illustrate the efficiency of public service delivery more persuasively than mere statistics.
Highlighting the issues presented by deepfakes, replicated voices, and AI-crafted videos, he called on officials to authenticate information before dissemination. He urged Information Service Officers to consistently improve their abilities in digital communication, fact-checking and video content creation.
The Chief Minister guaranteed the officials of governmental assistance for enhancing capacities and infrastructure advancements in all districts and at the state center. He instructed departmental officials to present comprehensive proposals to enhance the social media system.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg stated that government officials should not only share information but also convey welfare programs and development initiatives to the public with genuine commitment and sincerity. She stated that precise communication would bolster public confidence in the government.
In his welcome speech, Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of the Information and Public Relations Department, called the department’s officers the public face of the government and emphasized their importance in effectively communicating government policies and development initiatives.
During the programme, Majhi introduced the ‘e-Sanchar App,’ created by the department to enhance transparency and accountability in the advertisement management system. He also launched Lokasamparka, the yearly magazine released by the Information Service Association.
Akhil Kumar Mishra, Additional Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), participated in the event. Departmental Director Sanjay Kumar Biswal expressed gratitude with the vote of thanks.
Officers from districts, subdivisions, and different departments in the information service took part in the event.
