Effective public dialogue is the cornerstone of governance rather than an administrative afterthought, observed Akhil Kumar Mishra, Additional Director General (ADG) of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), Bhubaneswar.
Addressing Odisha Information Service (OIS) officers during an interactive orientation programme at Lok Seva Bhavan, Mishra highlighted the evolving landscape of government communication, ethics in public service, and the need for deeper citizen engagement.
Drawing on over three decades of experience across state and central administrative frameworks, Mishra noted that despite changing communication channels, the core challenge remains bridging the governance gap to reach the common citizen.
“Words do not merely affect us temporarily; they socialize or unsocialize us,” Mishra said, referencing classical Indian texts alongside modern sociological works like David Riesman’s *The Lonely Crowd* and Albert Camus’ *’The Guest’*.
“Every piece of institutional communication either builds civic cohesion or deepens alienation.”
During the session, officers participated in an experiential blindfold simulation designed to illustrate the complexities of message transmission, direction, and trust. Reflecting on the exercise, Mishra cautioned against treating communication as a passive process. “Merely passing down a pamphlet, booklet, or hoarding is not communication—it is merely functioning as a postman,” he emphasized, calling for clarity, actionable guidance, and active two-way dialogue.
The orientation was attended by Sanjay Kumar Biswal, Director of the Information & Public Relations (I&PR) Department, Government of Odisha, alongside other senior state administration officials.
