Rs 200 Cr to be Spent on UPA's Image Makeover

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It’s been said that the finance ministry has agreed for the special allocations of 200 crore to the government ministries for them to highlight achievements of the UPA government, which were achieved in the last nine years of its ministry. An announcement regarding the allocation of funds is expected to be made in the budget for 2013-14.

As believed by the UPA policy managers that the image of the government has taken major hits because of social activist Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption which has created a negative perception in the minds of people. It has also side-tracked the government's achievements on social welfare measures in the last nine years. While informing about the advances brought in by the government, a senior planning commission functionary said, “The per capita income of an Indian has more than doubled in the UPA regime,” as reported by Hindustan Times. He further informed that the benefit of rapid economic growth in the country has reached the lowest levels of the society.

However the same functionary did admit the government has failed to project success of its "inclusive growth" agenda.

The reason given was that the government spent most part of the last three years on fighting allegations of corruption. It’s about time to bring in some course correction.

For a campaign to showcase the achievements of the UPA government and other related benefits for common people the Planning Commission, which allocates money to different ministries will allocate around 200 crore.

The money allotted would be almost a four-fold increase in the government's spending on publicity. The UPA managers claim that the publicity is a crucial requirement in the election year when the opposition parties would be criticizing the government in every aspect.The money would be mentioned in the budget of the information and broadcasting ministry and the ministries have been informed to sketch out the out-reach plan to be executed from the next financial year. As official said, “There would be a special component on projecting the government's direct benefit scheme,” as reported by Hindustan Times.

As expressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the recent Congress Chintan Shivar that his concern is over the failure of the government to project its achievements and correct public perception. The plan is to utilize the 200 crore allocations to try and set the records straight on some of the concerns raised by him.

The plan to bring forth the good deeds done to cover up the allegations is a solid plan the government has before the next elections. But after the beating it has been taking over the last few years from the opposition and the IAC chief Arvind Kejriwal, the need to reset its image could be hard. But how much of good work can restore trust in people, only time can tell.