The Gazetteers Department

One of the four regional publicity officers of the Directorate of Publicity, Maharashtra, is stationed at Aurangabad. His jurisdiction extends over the districts of Aurangabad, Parbhani Bhir, Nanded and Osmanabad.

The regional publicity officer works as a link between, the government officers and the press in the districts. He keeps himself in touch with the officers of the various departments in the districts and issues news items and write-ups to the press.

The regional publicity officer is entrusted with the following functions:—

(i) Dissemination of factual information on schemes and activities of the government in the region.

(ii) Arranging press visits and press conferences to provide an opportunity to the press to get first hand knowledge of the subjects to be covered.

(iii) Examining carefully the reports and comments in the press and counteracting any representation against the government with the minimum delay.

(iv) Replying querries in the press seeking information on subjects of general interest.

(v) Arranging talks on various subjects concerning nation-building activities by government officers and others.

The regional publicity officer acts as a correspondent of the Directorate of Publicity, Maharashtra and gives publicity to government schemes and activities, press conferences, etc. He keeps the Director of Publicity, Maharashtra, informed of the trends in the local press and public opinion. He helps the film section of the Directorate of Publicity in producing documentaries and news-reels on subjects pertaining to the region.

District Publicity Officer

The district publicity officer works as a representative of the Directorate of Publicity in the district, and helps the latter in every respect. His main work is to publicise the progress done under the development programme. This he does through various media viz., news-items, articles and documentary films. Reports and comments appearing in the press in respect of his district are scrutinized by him and submitted to concerned officers for further necessary action.

He supplies material, booklets and information for being incorporated in various publications of the directorate. He distributes and arranges for the sale of a large number of publications issued by the Directorate of Publicity. He keeps the regional publicity officer acquainted with trends in the local press. He keeps himself in close touch with the collector of the district and carries out his instructions in matters of publicity.

The district publicity officer, Bhir runs an information centre at the headquarters for the local population and the visitors to the district. Maps, charts, models and publications depicting the progress of development works are displayed in the centre. The centre subscribes to important news-papers published in the state and outside.

Till February 1963, 142 radio sets were installed in the district under the rural broadcasting contributory scheme. Farmers forums were organised in 70 villages. It is proposed to install a radio-set in each village of the district and to bring about one fourth of them under the farmers forum scheme.