Can’t hide info, get on to social media aggressively: Minister

to officials New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) The age of "iron curtain" isover and the government needs to open up to provide swift andaccurate information to the people, Minister of State forInformation and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore today saidwhile asking officials to take to social media aggressively. "We need to open up. Typically, governments have beenwith iron curtains all around. But today time is changing, sowe first need to change our mindset," Rathore said as heinaugurated a workshop for government officials on how to useFacebook more effectively for communication. Addressing Press Information Bureau (PIB) officials wholook after government’s communication outreach, Rathore saidthat the process of how information is shared from decisionmakers to disseminators needs to get faster and social mediacan play a key role as it not only shapes debates on TV butalso public opinion. "You cannot hide information in today’s world. You haveto share that information. The idea is to send the right kindof content that people can engage with," he said. Pointing out that often incorrect information regardingministries and government departments goes on social media,Rathore said that on such occasions the correct facts shouldbe provided. "That is the time you could get to the social media andcorrect that information. People are hungry for information,"Rathore said. A lot of people dismiss social media, saying the debategoing on there is "junk", he said but emphasised that thisvery debate is even shaping what is happening on television orin the print media. "It is shaping your mind when you sit on the dining tableduring dinner time and do your discussions," he added. He said that 85 per cent of central ministers are onfacebook and 80 per cent ministries already have verifiedaccounts. He, however, emphasised that even this figure needsto be improved. Apparently referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whois active on social media, Rathore said that the coach hasshown the way and it is now for the players to act. Rathore said that the Indian PM could soon be the mostliked leader on social media globally. MORE PTI ADSRT