NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi is learnt to have told ministers that knowing facts and communicating them effectively was crucial as he asked them to study issues in detail and put across govt’s position to counter negative narratives.The suggestion came during the two-day Chintan Shivir at a time when issues around Election Commission’s SIR exercise and the IIT-Bombay controversy have become political flashpoints. TOI has learnt that the PM has advised ministers to put across govt’s views during their engagement with people and media in their constituencies. “The message was clear that ministers must have full knowledge of the issues and must be fully prepared to counter other narratives with facts and details,” said person aware of the deliberations at the brainstorming session.All ministers were asked to identify challenges, point out the gaps and suggest action plans for govt schemes to ensure that their intended outcomes are delivered within the stipulated timelines, in the larger interest of beneficiaries. There were detailed presentations under themes, including “Self development along with improvement in functioning of their departments” and “Jan Vishwas se Jan Aadhaar” (trust-based governance to popular support).
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The session held after a gap of four years is being seen as a mid-term stocktaking exercise to review performance and chalk out strategies for improving overall efficiency of ministers and ministries. Urging ministers to engage with officials at all levels, PM Modi reportedly said it had come to his notice that a minister did not interact with officials below the secretary in the department while suggesting that interaction with officials of levels was necessary for better performance.PM, in his brief address, has asked ministers to ensure saturation of around 40-45 major welfare schemes and communicating their benefits effectively to the intended beneficiaries.