Jalandhar, June 3
Coming out of a slumber, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) is ready to launch a first-ever Public Information Campaign (PIC) to promote UPA government’s flagship programmes and schemes. The five-day campaign will begin in Tarn Taran on June 12.

Media units under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), including the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity, Song and Drama Division, All India Radio and Doordarshan would be pressed into service to make the awareness campaign on the Central government programmes and schemes a success.

In addition, state governments and public sector undertakings like LIC, NABARD, nationalised banks, cooperative banks would be roped in for the campaign, in which, lectures on diverse topics would be key components.

The focus of the campaign, to be kick-started at Satkar Palace on Amritsar Road in Tarn Taran, would be on highlighting Central programmes such as Bharat Nirman, National Rural Health Mission, Right to Information Act, Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission, Sarb Sikhya Abhiyan, and Mid Day Meal Programme.

The Principal Information Officer (PIO), Mr Deepak Sandhu, has held discussion with the Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, on the campaign. Also, the Deputy Director General, Directorate of the Field Publicity (DFP), Mr S. K. Dhatwalia, has struck a liaison with the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner, Mr K.S. Bhullar.

It is for the first time that the PIB is launching such a large-scale venture to propagate programmes of any Central government in a state and in such an aggressive manner.

The Central concern has so far only been known for its limited activities, like distribution of press releases and features relating to developmental activities carried out by the Central governments and to give feedback to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

While the change was being watched within the media circles with a certain degree of curiosity, officials of the PIB were enthusiastic about the venture. They said the campaign would give them a chance to have one-to-one interactions with the people.

Jalandhar, June 3
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s two-day sojourn to Jalandhar caused much inconvenience to the local residents, as traffic restrictions were imposed on various routes of the city.

Since the Chief Minister did not stay in the Circuit House and preferred to spend the night at a Model Town residence of one of his friends, the normal life of the residents of the Model Town was affected.

On Friday afternoon, the Jalandhar police cordoned-off the area and imposed traffic restrictions on the routes taken by the entourage of the Chief Minister.

For the entire night, the residents of the area had to face restrictions.

In the morning, huge traffic jams were witnessed on the GT Road and near the BMC Chowk, as the CM’s cavalcade moved towards Milap Chowk from Defence Colony.

“I had to go from Cool Road towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office, but I got stuck in a traffic jam at BMC Chowk, where the policemen did were not allowing commuters to go ahead,” a resident complained.

“The whole night, it seemed as if a curfew had been imposed in the area,” a Model Town-based doctor said.

“Nakas had been put up everywhere and vehicle users were not allowed to take the main road for a long interval,” he added.

The two days also proved hard for the local policemen who were kept continuosly on their toes.

When the CM visited the office of a vernacular daily and later addressed a gathering at the Punjab Press Club, the entire area was brimming with policemen, most on duty since early morning waiting for the VIPs to show up.