Sukhu-led Himachal govt to hire social media coordinators for ‘image makeover’: Salary and inside details

Last update:November 28, 2024, 2:48 p.m. IST

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s cabinet in Himachal Pradesh has decided to appoint social media coordinators to improve the image of its ministers and promote their work

Controversy continues to surround the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government in Himachal Pradesh. In a bid to improve his public image, Sukhu’s cabinet decided to appoint social media coordinators to improve the image of his ministers and promote their work. Orders for these appointments have already been issued, with the government approving two social media coordinators per minister.

The Department of Information and Public Relations of the Himachal Pradesh government has written a letter to all the private secretaries of the chief minister. The letter states that the government had previously approved the hiring of these social media coordinators on an outsourced basis. According to the letter, each minister will have two coordinators, with a monthly salary of Rs 30,000.

BJP MP from Dharamshala and former Congress leader Sudhir Sharma criticized the decision, accusing the government of placing an additional burden on public funds. He questioned the basis for these appointments, including the qualifications and salaries of those appointed. The BJP MP also pointed out that the High Court has banned outsourced recruitments till December 3, raising doubts over the legality of the decision.

The Congress-led Himachal government has already been criticized for appointing a large number of advisors in Himachal Pradesh, as well as media advisors in Chandigarh and Delhi, all of whom reportedly receive salaries in the range of several thousands of lakhs. These appointments have raised concerns about wasteful spending, especially in light of the state’s economic challenges.

Adding to the controversy, the government is under scrutiny over issues related to the recruitment of government employees and outsourcing of jobs. Critics say these appointments are made without taking into account the state’s financial constraints.

Currently, Sukhu’s cabinet comprises 10 ministers, with one position remaining vacant. Several departments are directly supervised by the Chief Minister.

Location :

Himachal Pradesh, India