New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has asked all media units under it to hire young professionals, aiming to bring domain knowledge and expertise into its functioning, ThePrint has learnt.
The directive is in line with the Narendra Modi government’s plans to bring more specialised talent into the various departments, which it thinks will bring reforms in governance.
Highly-placed sources in the ministry told ThePrint that it has directed all its media units to assess the number of professionals required. It has also sought to know the functions and scope of work these young executives will be required to do.
The I&B ministry has 10 media units under it with hundreds of offices across the country. These include the Bureau of Outreach Communication (BOC), Publication Division, Films Division, Press Information Bureau, Registrar of Newspapers for India, among others.
‘Niti Model’
The ministry’s plan is in accordance with what is called the ‘Niti model’ — adopted by the government think-tank NITI Aayog — of hiring young consultants for policy formation and other key roles.
Apart from the I&B ministry, several other ministries are also in the process of adopting the Niti model, government sources informed, and have been hiring people — even as it is unclear what roles they will be assigned.
ThePrint has sought responses from the I&B ministry. This report will be updated when the responses are received.
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Spreading information
While hiring young professionals in I&B ministry’s media units is a new move, the core job of many such units were handed over to private firms by the Modi government during its previous regime.
For instance, the Directorate of Field Publicity — a media unit responsible for publicising government schemes and later merged with the BOC — had hired private companies on contractual basis to spread information on policies, programmes and achievements in villages ahead of the general and state elections.
It is expected that some of these new professionals will be attached to the minister’s office or assigned to other offices.
ThePrint had earlier reported that I&B minister Prakash Jawadekar wanted to induct consultants instead of regular government staff in state-owned broadcasters — Doordarshan and the All India Radio. The ministry had then said no such directions were issued by it.
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