Dr Abhinav Trikha IAS Special Secretary
Chandigarh: 25 October, 2016: Department of Water Supply & Sanitation Punjab (DWSS) is seriously contemplating to utilize the social media to create an effective environment in favour of “usage” of open defecation free (ODF) and other schemes. The DWSS is in preparation to bring out a strong media policy for this purpose.
In exclusive talks with APS Brar of babushahi.com in his office on Monday, Abhinav Trikha IAS, Special Secretary said “The DWSS has initiated a process to lay more thrust on awareness plan and mobilizing the community to take the lead in changing its sanitation status and changing the socially acceptable norm of open defecation. Behaviour change among rural communities is the biggest challenge, which I feel should be given top priority in the awareness campaign says Abhinav Trikha.
It may be recalled here that Ajoy Sharma IAS, head of DWSS have took various steps in this regard and work on an action plan was started by him. Abhinav Trikha after taking over as Special Secretary on 27th July took up the work of finalizing media policy on priority and makes it operational as he felt it is need of the hour.
Abhinav Trikha further said “The main objective of the media policy will be to give wide publicity and sensitize society through social media, especially face book, twitter and instagram regarding the schemes, programmes being run by the Department. Thrust will be on “usage” of ODF & behavioural change as is main feature.
“We have already activated and launched our account on twitter and face book last week”. We are in the process of making them attractive disclosed Abhinav Trikha. We have also hired professionals from Punjab University to formulate a communication strategy after making a survey focused on the “usage” of ODF.
Lot of work has been done, few of the districts have achieved 100% ODF others are in the line to attain, but now I feel we need of an aggressive media contribution to build a public opinion for “usage”. A policy to promote awareness and to sensitize society with focus on remote and rural areas disclosed Abhinav Trikha.
Abhinav Trikha said “No law aimed at social change, no policy aimed at social reforms can be really successful unless it is backed by strong public opinion. Desired objectives of social change can be secured only by securing a public opinion distinctly favourable to proposed reforms and changes”. As such in every society, public opinion is at the back of every activity of the government and for that purpose aggressive media policy is required stressed Abhinav Trikha.
Considered as one of the competent officers, Abhinav Trikha IAS officer of 2006 batch has served as Deputy Commissioner of border district Gurdaspur for four years. His long tenure as DC was non-controversial and it was one of the well managed districts of state. (APS Brar 9814313405)