The Hindu : Tours for scribes, a thing of the past

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Tours for scribes, a thing of the past

By M. Balaganessin

CUDDALORE MARCH 25. Gone are the days when presspersons were taken for a tour of ongoing schemes by the district administration. Various departments, particularly the Highways Department or the Tamilnadu Water Supply and Draianage Board, often organised these visits.

But, in the past three years, there are no such tours. A press release by the disrict administration seems to be the administration's standard means of communication. But the releases do not contain even the basic details such as the time of take-off of the project, its completion schedule, location and the benefits. Press releases do away with the need to answer questions from the media.

A release issued by the District Collector, S. Thangaswamy, today, for instance, said a sum of Rs 2.15 crores had been spent by the Highways Department and road facilities had been provided in five villages. As it was a release based on the technical details of the Highways Department, it contained particulars of the Highways milestone numbers assigned to the road concerned such as 2/6 km in Thennambakkam and 14/6 km in Virudhachalam Paalakollai.

The release did not contain the particulars such as the need for the project, even if it was a long-pending demand of the people in the concerned village.

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