Maharashtra to Spend Rs 24 Crore on SMS Alerts for Public Decisions, Faces Backlash
Pune, 12th October 2024: Approximately ₹24 crore will be spent by the Maharashtra state government to communicate public interest decisions to citizens through Short Message Service (SMS). However, the government’s decision to approve this expenditure is facing criticism.
The General Administration Department issued a government decision approving the cost of disseminating information to citizens via SMS. The Directorate of Information and Public Relations submitted a proposal to allocate ₹23.78 crore to publicize decisions made by the State Government during weekly meetings, specifically to inform citizens of decisions related to public interest.
Reportedly, this proposal has been approved. The institution selection process will be conducted through an e-tender process, selecting from recognized institutions on the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) list. Compliance with government directives, financial rules, CAG guidelines, and budget regulations has been mandated.
Right to Information (RTI) activist and Aam Aadmi Party State Vice-President Vijay Kumbhar questioned and criticized the decision. Kumbhar pointed out that typically, 52 Cabinet meetings are held annually, once a week. He estimated that ₹40 to ₹50 lakh would be spent each week, and if additional meetings were held, the costs could rise further.
