New Delhi: Realising the importance of social media, the Union Information and Broadcasting ministry has sent a batch of eleven officers to the United Kingdom for training on using this communication tool as part of government's media policy, Official sources said that apart from Indian Information Service(IIS) officers, some officials of the I and B ministry have gone to the Thomson Foundation in England for a two-week media training course.
The government was considering ways on how to use the social media for some time, esepcially against the backdrop of strong protests triggered by Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement.
Senior I and B ministry officials said the trip to the UK was part of regular training for which Plan funds were sanctioned and that the present course in England has not been shaped by the events that occurred during the Hazare episode.
"The course at the Thomson Foundation is part of the government's overall policy to impart skills to its officials and has the sanction of the Expenditure Finance Commission (EFC) from the year 2007," said a senior official.
"The I and B ministry has been regularly sending officers to undergo media training courses much earlier and since 2007 at least seven batches of officers have undergone this training," the official said.
Officials said that nearly 60 officers had undergone training at Thomson Foundation and two batches had been sent to undergo the training last year.
"While a preference is given to Indian Information Service officials, ministry of I and B officials are also sent," the official said.
Officials said that besides Thomson University, the Australian National University, Canberra also imparted similar courses for which government officials have undergone training.
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