Tamilnadu Government needs to get its PR act together

In the middle of the cycle and floods of 2015, the government of tamilnadu called a hurried press conference to describe the measures it has taken to evacuate patients from hospitals. A press meeting during which several secretary level officials and the then corporation head also participated. however, after having made their statement, they refused to take any further questions and the supposed 'press meet' was over. 

While the internet debates the decision of President Trump to skip a dinner meeting with the press persons in White House, an eloborate annual ritual of bonhomie between the politicians and the media, we in Tamilnadu are still live in an age of gossip and hearsay as far as governement information goes. Yes, there are other issues between Trump and the media in the US, but, that is not my point.

The floods and the relief efforts of 2015, the impact of the varda in the capital and the  subsequent relief efforts, the health status of the incumbant CM, the announcement of a demise of a state leader, the changes and struggles in new government formation, the reasons and logic behind the breakage of the jallikattu protest, the changes in the government and a new CM...all of these are things that could have been better communicated if there was a Public Relations exercise from the state government that communicated the official status to the citizens. It is not for the purpose of the media that is highly polarized, but, communicating with the public at large. 

We are still in the era of individuals in parties that rule talking to thier partypersons as the formal government communication apart from the advertisements that are issued on special occassions. Yes, when governance was dominated by alpha-male personalities and their imitators, it was difficult for bureaucrats to double guess their intentions. even in such cases, periodic updates, perhaps not as much as a daily white house update, but, even a weekly formal briefing for the public through the media would be so much more professional.

Tamilnadu is the size of Thailand and bigger in its size than many European and Africal countries. The media here is quite large and varied. It can boast of some very good media professionals. The government too has some very good professionals in its ranks as bureaucrats today. If only there was a professionally organized press briefing, it would make so much difference.