Panaji (Goa) The  government has issued circular asking all its departments to appoint one of its gazetted officer as a Public Relation Officer (PRO) to avoid negative publicity due to lack of information provided to the media on print, electronic, digital and social media.

The circular issued by Sudhir Mahajan, Secretary, Information and Publicity department on November 19, has asked the departments to appoint PRO who will serve as Departmental Publicity Officer within 20 days.

“With a view of appraising general public on a regular basis of the developmental and progressive activities undertaken by different organizations of the State government and to effectively deal with critical news emanating due to lack of information or otherwise, the Government has decided to designate the officer in every department or autonomous body as the Public Relations Officer,” the circular reads.

The government has made the concerned PRO responsible to liase with the media monitoring cell of the department of information and publicity on a regular basis and if need arises, issue press statements, backgrounders through the department (department of information and publicity), it reads.

Mahajan has said that the PRO shall on real time basis monitor print, electronic, digital and social media channels and if need arises issue appropriate rebuttals to critical or adverse coverages after proper approval from their administrative secretary. 

Besides various duties assigned to the PRO, the circular also mentions that he will also advice the department or autonomous bodies on all matters pertaining to information needs of media and publicity requirements.