Bhopal: It seems MP bureaucrats are getting publicity hungry more than the government itself. A recent full size advertisement in a national magazine praising Lokesh Jatav, commissioner in state education centre is a manifestation of the fact. The two-page advertisement glorifying Jatav’s tenure as Mandla collector, has praised the ‘Gyanarjan Yojana’ which was introduced by him.
The advertisement carries two photographs in which Jatav is seen receiving prize for the scheme while in the other he is featured with PM Narendra Modi. The impact feature on the two page advertisement signifies that it is a paid advertisement. However, Jatav has refused to have paid anything for that. On the other hand he feigns ignorance and denies even knowing as who got it published.
He expressed apathy towards any such publicity seeking stunt.
Jatav was Mandla collector between March 2013 and April 2016 and has done exemplary work in ‘Gyanarjan Yojana’. This is not the first time that a bureaucrat has triggered such a controversy as a 13-minute documentary praising revenue secretary P Narhari was also embroiled in controversy recently.
Congress spokesperson KK Mishra alleged such gimmicks by officers were not unique in a government which was running solely on fake advertisements. Contd. on P10
“Such incidents are very common in this government and are clear manifestation of the fact that government’s bureaucrats are overlooking its own policies,” he said.
It can’t be published without officer’s knowledge, says ex-CS
Former chief secretary KS Sharma said impact feature could not be published without the officer’s consent. “Who else will pay a hefty sum for publicity of someone else?” asked Sharma. He said such behaviour was not expected from a bureaucrat and was also against service rules.