Rs 3,755 Crores Spent on Publicity Blitz – Who Spent Whose Money on What

During the days when Shri Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, if one visited the state, one would be forgiven for imagining that there was only one political leader in the state; the CM. One would see only one visage beaming out of the hoardings, in publicity materials and print media: now looking thoughtful in carefully casual homespun, now looking like the quintessential NRI in a suit, now with some ornate traditional headgear; the facial lines composed along carefree smiles. The same is now true in the national capital region. Narendra Modi is literally everywhere; we now know why and how.

Rs 3,755 Crores on publicity

An application under the RTI (Right to Information Act) revealed that the Modi government had spent Rs three thousand, seven hundred fifty five crores on publicity from April 2014 to October 2017; on print and electronic media and outdoor publicity. These figures were divulged by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

More than the budget of key ministries

The efforts of Social Activist Ramveer Tanwar revealed that the budget for this publicity – digital cinema, community radio ads, Doordarshan spots, internet and SMS campaigns, TV ads, hoardings, posters, calendars, booklets and more – exceeds the budgetary allocation for some key ministries and flagship programs. 

So what is wrong with this?

After all, this was money spent telling people about government schemes, wasn’t it? The problem is that all the publicity material that is ostensibly meant to inform and educate the people, is paid for by the people. Public funds are used for the publicity of various schemes; all of which just happen to display prominently, the image of BJP leaders; frequently that of the Prime Minister. The publicity material is designed to display the government in a positive light.

8.5 crores on Mann ki Baat

An earlier RTI had revealed that the PM's monthly radio address Mann ki Baat is something that also receives expensive publicity. Till July 2015 Rs 8.5 crores had already been spent by the government on publicising the radio address via newspaper advertisements. What really is the need to tell people in such an expensive a way about what is supposed to be the PM’s casual musing?

Maharashtra government hired advertising firms

The government of Maharashtra, also led by the BJP has appointed over a dozen advertising agencies to do the same: advertise schemes, development initiatives and policies; particularly on social media says another report. Social media is important; the ad firms have to counter criticism and create positive trends and hashtags. Opposition leaders have called this a misuse of public money and a way to reinstate the trust of people and improve the image of the ruling party at the cost of people.

36 crores were spent on the two-year anniversary

The "Ek Nayi Subah" show was held in Delhi to mark two years of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). For this as well, an RTI query revealed for some Rs 36 crores were spent for the 6-hour program.

BJP had previously criticised and asked for reimbursement of similar spending

Previously when the Aam Aadmi Party had spent money on publicising its achievements, the BJP had criticised the spending and had even asked that the amounts should be recovered from the party.

Meanwhile the tweets said…

It was pointed out that the figure of Rs 3,755 crores may not be a comprehensive one; that it may not include publicity spending of Railways and other public sector units or by other BJP ruled states. Another pointed out the paltry budget pollution abatement in comparison! 

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