By: Lawan Thakur
Mandi (Feb 19): While common sense would have suggested using informative slogans and related material on calendars specially published to propagate the ongoing census, the Directorate of Census in Himachal Pradesh appears more convinced that photographs of Hindu gods would do the job better. So around 50,000 calendars distributed recently to motivate people to help complete the census have actually nothing to say about the exercise.
Interestingly, while money has been allotted for a wide range of publicity mediums, maximum amount has been spent on the calendars. Surprisingly, Kala Jathas, that are an important medium of folk media, were allotted a meager amount of just Rs 500 per performance. Naming the persons who designed the calendars, DD Sharma, who is deputy director in the Directorate of Census, Shimla, said the designs were duly cleared by the directorate. On the other hand, director, census, Balbir Tagta claimed that all mediums of mass propagation were equally used and all publicity material was prepared as per the directions of the home ministry.
