Odisha will introduce an effective Social Media Policy to strengthen government communication in the digital age, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Friday. He also launched the ‘E-Sanchar App’ to ensure greater transparency and accountability in government advertisement management.
Addressing Odisha Information Service officers at Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to adopt emerging social media trends and establish a seamless digital information and communication mechanism from district offices to the state headquarters.
Majhi said the government would strengthen fact-checking mechanisms to counter misinformation, rumours, deepfakes and artificially generated videos. He urged information officers to verify facts before sharing content and ensure that accurate information reaches the public promptly.
Highlighting the three key principles of government communication—accuracy, speed and simplicity—the Chief Minister said official communication must be factual, timely and easy for citizens to understand. He stressed that officers should move beyond issuing press releases and develop professional communication skills suited to the evolving digital landscape.
The Chief Minister also called for effective social media monitoring and social listening to understand public feedback and address citizens’ concerns quickly. He encouraged officers to use storytelling to highlight how government welfare schemes are improving people’s lives, describing beneficiaries’ experiences as evidence of effective service delivery.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said accurate and transparent communication would strengthen public trust in the government. She urged officers to communicate welfare initiatives and development achievements with sincerity and commitment.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Information and Public Relations Department Hemant Sharma highlighted the growing importance of social media in administration.
During the programme, Majhi also released the annual magazine Lokasampark, prepared by the Odisha Information Service Association. Senior officials, including Press Information Bureau Additional Director General Akhil Kumar Mishra, attended the event.
The Chief Minister assured support for improving officers’ skills and strengthening digital communication infrastructure across Odisha.