The central government has spent over Rs 3,800 crore on the publicity of government schemes in the last three years, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.
In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Information andBroadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said Bureau of Outreach andCommunication, a media unit under the ministry, uses print, electronic andoutdoor media as well as direct communication through printed materials forpublicising policies and programmes of the government to create awareness amongthe people.
Javadekar also gave the details of expenditure incurred oncreating awareness for the schemes — Rs 1,280.07 crore in 2016-17, Rs 1328.06crore in 2017-18 and Rs 1195.94 crore in 2018-19.
The minister also gave a year-wise break-up of theexpenditure on publicity through different media.
In 2016-17, Rs 468.53 crore was spent on publicity throughprint media, Rs 609.14 crore on audio-visual, Rs 186.59 crore on outdoorpublicity and Rs 15.81 crore on printed publicity, he said.
In 2017-18, Rs 636.09 crore was spent on print media, Rs468.93 crore on audio visual, Rs 208.55 crore on outdoor publicity and Rs 14.49crore on printed publicity, he said.In 2018-19, Rs 429.55 crore was spent on printmedia, Rs 514.29 on audio visual, Rs 235.33 crore on outdoor publicity and16.77 crore on printed publicity, Javadekar said.