New Delhi: Chhattisgarh’s Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel seems to have taken a leaf out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s book to launch a monthly radio show for public outreach.
The format of Baghel’s show ‘Lokvani — Aap ki Baat’ is similar to Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’; it is also a 30-minute programme broadcast monthly, and sees the CM address public queries and grievances while also weighing in on the theme chosen for a particular episode. It started in August, eight months after Baghel’s Congress defeated the BJP’s three-term chief minister Raman Singh to take Chhattisgarh’s reigns.
The difference is that while Mann ki Baat is broadcast on the last Sunday of the month, Lokvani is on the second Sunday of the month, and features some questions from the public that the CM answers too.
However, Baghel is dismissive of any similarities between the two shows. “He speaks of the mind, I speak of the public. I take questions from the public, answer them, talk to them,” Baghel told ThePrint. “Lokvani, to me, is a democratic stage.”
Also Read: Four years of Modi’s Mann Ki Baat: Lots of policy & motivation, not one mention of BJP
The process behind Lokvani
The Chief Minister’s Office shortlists a topic for the show by the beginning of the month, and questions are invited through the radio and newspapers.
Before each episode, the public is given three days to call a designated number at the Raipur All India Radio to record their messages.
Baghel then receives a transcript of all the questions and decides which ones to answer, while also stating his views on the issue. Enclosures are also set up for people to listen to the broadcast.
‘Wanted to speak directly to people’
While the first episode was a general discussion, the second one was about youth and employment. The October edition focused on women empowerment and health.
“This time, a resident of Khairagarh (in Rajnandgaon district) called to complain about a hospital in the area,” said an aide to the CM who did not wish to be named. “The hospital is in former CM Raman Singh’s constituency. He had promised to fix it, but it hadn’t been fixed.”
According to the aide, Baghel responded to the query by announcing that the 35-bed hospital will be converted into a 50-bed facility.
Another concern raised in the episode was regarding the appointment of paramedical staff.
“The appointment of the staffers and nurses had been pending for a while,” said an official associated with Lokvani. “The CM has now announced 1,200 immediate appointments.”
According to Umesh Mishra, who works in Chhattisgarh’s public relations department, which handles the programme, Lokvani was the result of Baghel’s desire to keep his finger on the pulse of the people.
The next episode is likely to be about urban development.
“The CM wanted to speak directly to the people,” said Mishra. “Radio reach in the state is still the best, so we chose this open forum. The response has been stupendous.”
Also read: Now RSS starts its own ‘Mann Ki Baat’ series on YouTube
Imitation is said to be the finest form of flattery! Radio hasn’t yet lost its relevance in India.
They ridicule Modi’s ”Mann ki baat’. But THEY can do the same without a blush.. The most ‘Negative’ party, ever.