Revenue Boards should have a better PR outfit

By Vijay Kumar

Presidential awardees go uncovered. The Presidential awards for the officers of the Customs and Central Excise department were presented by the Finance Minister yesterday but what is the importance given, by CBEC and the DRI which organised the function, to the awards function? There was hardly any publicity, any journalistic presence, any press note – it was as if a secret function was being organised, which the CBEC did not want to be spoiled by presence of journalists. Not many of them were invited! TIOL would have been happy to carry reports about the awardees and their great work, which ultimately got them the awards and recognition, but there was absolutely no information available – anywhere! Why is the CBEC shy of presenting its best officers? Or is it that lethargy has fully taken over that nothing, just nothing, is important? It’s time that the Revenue Boards have full time PROs to highlight the achievements of the departments and present a better image. We in TIOL are ready to extend all support to the Boards, but are they ready?