Probationers of Indian Information Service (Iis) Call on the President

The probationers of the Indian Information Service called on the President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.

Speaking to the probationers, the President said this Century is that of the Knowledge Society, and in a Knowledge Society, information is an important element. She said the work that the Officers would be doing, after completing their training was very important, as it directly deals with communicating the policies of the Government of India to the people.

She said the Officers have to be well informed, articulate and well organized and must also be able to understand the various nuances of policies, as their work will also involve countering the criticism faced by the Government. The President said they should respond efficiently by explaining the reasons why government policies are formulated.

The President emphasized that they would be working in a challenging environment, as the media is an important part of a democracy and is free to articulate its views. It will therefore depend on the officers' ability to convincingly argue the case, so that the viewpoint of the Government finds a place in the media. The officers also have to ensure timely feedback to the Government on reaction to its policies that came out through the media.

The President also referred to the growth of the media with the advent of social media, and also spoke about the need to use the media, especially in rural areas to eradicate social evils, as they destroy families, individuals and the well-being of people.

Amongst those who were present were the Principal Director-General (Media and Communication) of the Government of India, Smt. Neelam Kapur.

This release issued at 1600 hrs.