Paperman Media (Dhenkanal )- Vice Chancellor of Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, on Friday urged newly appointed officers of the Odisha Information Service (OIS) to work with integrity, sensitivity and commitment while communicating government initiatives to the people.
Addressing the valedictory session of the ten-day orientation and training programme for the second batch of newly appointed Sub-Divisional Information and Public Relations Officers (SDIPROs) at IIMC Dhenkanal, Dr. Gaur said that information officers play a crucial role in strengthening democratic communication, citizen engagement and effective governance at the grassroots level.
She emphasized that just as IIMC New Delhi has earned national recognition as a premier institution in the field of media and communication training, IIMC Dhenkanal has also emerged as a leading centre for professional training in information and public relations in Odisha. “It is a matter of pride for me as Vice Chancellor to see the growing contribution of IIMC Dhenkanal in capacity building and professional training,” she said.
The training programme, conducted from May 5 to May 15, focused on strengthening the professional capabilities of the newly recruited officers in areas such as press release writing, district-level public relations management, communication of government welfare schemes in simple and accessible language, crisis communication, event management, storytelling, and applications of artificial intelligence in public communication.
The Regional Director of IIMC Dhenkanal, Prof. Anand Pradhan expressed confidence that the officers would effectively apply the knowledge and practical insights gained during the training in their respective field postings. He noted that IIMC Dhenkanal has developed a constructive and meaningful partnership with the Odisha Department of Information and Public Relations for professional capacity building.
Prof. Pradhan encouraged the officers to adopt innovative communication approaches to ensure that government schemes and success stories reach people at the grassroots effectively. He also thanked various stakeholders for their support in launching new academic initiatives, incubation activities and professional training programmes at the institute.
OSD of the institute, Dr. Satya Narayan Patnaik, highlighted the importance of storytelling techniques in presenting developmental and governance-related news in an engaging and positive manner.
During the programme, trainee officers shared their experiences and feedback about the training sessions. Certificates were later distributed to the participants by the Vice Chancellor.
Dr. Gaur also reviewed the ongoing infrastructure development works at the IIMC Dhenkanal campus during her visit.
Assistant Professor Abha Singh conducted the proceedings, while Assistant Professor Dr. Biranchi Narayan Seth proposed the vote of thanks. Assistant Professor Dr. Chirsrota Jena, Shri Paras Yadav and other staff members assisted in organizing the programme.
