Chandigarh: Cash-strapped Punjab Government on Thursday indicated to its senior officers that good public relations exercise is needed to get centrally-sponsored schemes sanctioned for the State.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal called upon the top brass of the civil administration of the state government to keep a close liaison with the Union Government for getting centrally-sponsored schemes sanctioned for the state on a priority.
Presiding over the first meeting of the Financial Commissioners, Principal and Administrative Secretaries after SAD-BJP returned to power in March, Badal asked them to personally meet the concerned officers in the Union Government so as to make optimum utilisation of these schemes.
Badal also offered his support by way of personal intervention wherever needed to get these schemes through and funds released, an official release quoting Badal said.
He underscored the need to develop a "knack for human relationship which is the basic factor to get the desired results through maintaining cordial relations".
He also asked the officers to never shy of meeting the officials of lowest rung in the different departments and ministries of the Centre for the development of the state in the public interest.
Badal said that he himself never hesitated to meet even such officials for the welfare of the state and had been immensely benefited by this approach for getting many schemes and plans sanctioned for Punjab.
He told the officers that communication gap often leads to alienation which must be bridged up through regular visits and meetings.
The Chief Minister also asked the officers to regularly coordinate with the concerned departments and ministries in the Union Government to keep them updated on the central schemes announced from time to time.
Badal also asked the officers to maintain decorum and punctuality in the offices and should be available in offices from 9 am to 5 pm on every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to carry out official work besides listening to the grievances of the general public and directed them to keep their field visits and tours on other days.
PTI
