I&PR office in Minister Ponguleti’s own district in shambles

The public relations office which is meant to dispense information to the public is marred by lack of a regular district public relations officer (DPRO)

Kothagudem: District information and public relations (I & PR) office is in shambles in Information and Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy’s own district. The public relations office which is meant to dispense information to the public is marred by lack of a regular district public relations officer (DPRO). The office is being looked after by in-charges for the past few years affecting its functionality.

It was said that the regular DPRO M Srinivas Kumar, who was posted at Kothagudem, has been on-duty at I & PR commissioner’s office in Hyderabad for the past three years. As a result the personnel at Kothagudem office have to go to Hyderabad to get the bills signed by him for their clearance since he is the drawing and disbursing officer (DDO).

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Every month the office attender has to go to Hyderabad to get the hard copy of the salaries bill of Kothagudem staff signed by Srinivas Kumar bearing own expenses and it has become burdensome, complained an official.

Meanwhile, the infighting among the staff has also become a cause of concern. Assistant public relations officer Mohammed Asghar Hussain, who has been acting as the in-charge DPRO in Kothagudem has posted a message on the official WhatsApp group late on Thursday claiming that he is being troubled by the office typist P Rajesh in executing his official duties.

The message went viral among the media circles and exposed the sad state of affairs in the department. Hussian stated that due to lack of funds he was forced to spend money from his pocket to arrange vehicles and food for the media when ministers visited the district.

But when the bills are submitted in the Collector’s office Rajesh who looks after the files of bills has been delaying the processing of bills intentionally. Since the DPRO office started functioning in Kothagudem till January 2024 bills worth Rs 10, 000 spent on serving tea to scribes are pending, Hussain said.

He appealed to the I & PR commissioner to grant him DDO powers to clear the bills quickly for the smooth functioning of the office and its affairs. Hussain also took several issues wherein he was troubled by Rajesh and wanted action against him.
Kothagudem: District information and public relations (I & PR) office is in shambles in Information and Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy’s own district. The public relations office which is meant to dispense information to the public is marred by lack of a regular district public relations officer (DPRO). The office is being looked after by in-charges for the past few years affecting its functionality.

It was said that the regular DPRO M Srinivas Kumar, who was posted at Kothagudem, has been on-duty at I & PR commissioner’s office in Hyderabad for the past three years. As a result the personnel at Kothagudem office have to go to Hyderabad to get the bills signed by him for their clearance since he is the drawing and disbursing officer (DDO).

Every month the office attender has to go to Hyderabad to get the hard copy of the salaries bill of Kothagudem staff signed by Srinivas Kumar bearing own expenses and it has become burdensome, complained an official.

Meanwhile, the infighting among the staff has also become a cause of concern. Assistant public relations officer Mohammed Asghar Hussain, who has been acting as the in-charge DPRO in Kothagudem has posted a message on the official WhatsApp group late on Thursday claiming that he is being troubled by the office typist P Rajesh in executing his official duties.

The message went viral among the media circles and exposed the sad state of affairs in the department. Hussian stated that due to lack of funds he was forced to spend money from his pocket to arrange vehicles and food for the media when ministers visited the district.

But when the bills are submitted in the Collector’s office Rajesh who looks after the files of bills has been delaying the processing of bills intentionally. Since the DPRO office started functioning in Kothagudem till January 2024 bills worth Rs 10, 000 spent on serving tea to scribes are pending, Hussain said.

He appealed to the I & PR commissioner to grant him DDO powers to clear the bills quickly for the smooth functioning of the office and its affairs. Hussain also took several issues wherein he was troubled by Rajesh and wanted action against him.