Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 30: State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar tomorrow morning, is likely to give nod to the new Advertisement Policy prepared by the Information Department. It will also take decision on the proposal of Health and Medical Education Department regarding inclusion of nine items of essential expenditure in the Revolving Fund.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that the ever-increasing number of newspapers has become a cause of concern for the Department of Information as after completing one year of publication the newspapers approach the department for empanelment for advertisements.
“Due to this there has been a mismatch in budgetary provision for advertisements and the actual requirement of funds by the department and given the prevailing situation any further addition in the number of newspapers will worsen the situation”, sources said while disclosing that there are 622 newspapers of different periodicity—-332 from Jammu and 290 from Kashmir. As of now, 375 newspapers are approved for Government advertisements with the Directorate of Information.
In the new Advertisement Policy, which has been prepared by the Director Information in consultation with the department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Department of Information has proposed to increase the minimum period of consideration of newspaper for advertisement from existing one year to three years, sources informed. They said that minimum period of waiting in case of change in periodicity is also being increased.
“A departmental committee headed by the Director Information with provincial head of the Department and other officers dealing with distribution of advertisements as its members, will periodically review and update the list of newspapers for the purpose of advertisements as per the new criteria”, sources privy to the policy said.
Those newspapers which act in a way prejudicial to the unity and integrity of the country and the State; publish inflammatory materials likely to foment communal disharmony, regional tension and promote secessionism; indulge in the publication of obscene material violating public decency and moral values and violate journalistic code as enunciated by the Press Council of India will not be approved for the advertisements, sources said.
Moreover, under the new policy newspapers will be categorized on the basis of the recommendation of a committee, which will give due consideration to the circulation, production standard, content, number of pages, number of journalists and employees etc. Under the policy, Chief Minister will have powers to relax all or any provision in exceptional cases.
Sources informed that Cabinet will also take decision on the proposal of the Health and Medical Education Department regarding inclusion of the proceeds of investigation charges/tests to the extent of 75% on the digital radiography, mammography, ultra sound, colour dopler, computerized radiography, pathology laboratory, bio-chemistry laboratory, micro biology laboratory and blood bank charges, to be met within the available dispensation of the Revolving Fund of the Government Medical Colleges and other Associated Hospitals.
However, this arrangement would be subject to certain conditions which include periodic review of the rate structure of tests/investigations on yearly basis etc. This would help in ensuring proper maintenance of the equipments.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel