RTI: MVA Government Spent INR 155 Crores on Publicity Campaigns in 16 Months

Following an RTI (Right to Information) petition by activist Anil Galgali, the Maharashtra Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) has said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government has spent ₹155 crores on publicity campaigns over the last 16 months. The activist sought information on the money spent by the MVA government since its formation in late 2019.

Following up on the RTI petition, the DGIPR provided the data for the expenses incurred between December 11, 2019, and March 12, 2021. Digging through the data, the DGIPR said that the government spent ₹104.55 crores on publicity campaigns for 26 departments. 

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₹5.96 crores were spent on publicity campaigns for Women’s Day, while ₹9.99 crores were spent on the Padam department, ₹19.92 crores on the National Health Mission, and an additional ₹22.65 crores on a special publicity campaign in four phases. The RTI petition also revealed that the MVA Government spent ₹1.15 crores on social media management. 

Below are some of the other highlights of the MVA Government’s spending as per the DGIPR:  

• Maharashtra Health Education Department - ₹18.63 crores
• Maharashtra Urban Development Mission - ₹6.49 crores in three phases
• Disaster Management Department - ₹9.42 crores
• Publicity Campaign for Shiv Bhojan Thali Scheme - ₹20.65 lakh

Speaking on the expenses carried out by the State, petitioner Anil Galgali said, “Expenditure made in the name of social media is questionable. Apart from that, the calculation of the expenditure shown under the name of Creative is giving rise to various doubts.”

Galgali has written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanding the administration to upload expense details on a departmental level, including the nature of the expense, as well as the name of the beneficiary department, on the state’s official website.   

Social media expenses are likely to irk political opponents of the MVA. Data further revealed that the Department of Women and Child Development has spent ₹20 lakh on social media, while the State Minorities Department has spent ₹48 lakh of ₹50 lakh on social media.

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