Spending power

Reports that the government is planning to spend over Rs 20 crore to create a separate wing of the Press Information Bureau to drive its social media initiative has come as a rude shock to its current officers. Officially, most of them declined comment. Off the record, however, they questioned the need for a fresh burden on the exchequer at a time when many of them have not received their full telephone, entertainment or mobile allowances for the past two years for lack of funds.