Event Management/Advertising Companies working for GoM-Part 1
In the coming days, I am going to concentrate on advertising/event management agencies be it in the DGIPR, Tourism Department or in the BMC who have created havoc and there is absolutely no discipline left or no line left to be crossed for these advertisers or event management companies. Now when Devendra Fadnavis assumed the charge as the CM, he first wanted many departments to get a basic cleaning and fall in line. DGIPR was one of them. The situation was so worse in this department, that few field officers along with dubious characters from Thane who were the power centers too, of the department, were seen hobnobbing in various bars in the evening with the vendors. When this happens, you know what is going to follow. Total lawlessness. These advertising agencies, few media houses and event management companies need to be put in their place.
Today I begin the story of an event management company who is and has worked closely with the Maharashtra government in the past. The following articles after this one, will expose how IAS officers are in tune with advertising and event management companies in the Tourism department and the BMC.
What is an event management company’s work? Apart from hosting the event that they have got through ‘managed’ tenders, making the event a grand success without any hiccups, is the most important priority for any event management company. Important words are, no hiccups! But where the owners of these event management companies think that are above law, they know these filmy and Page 3 guys, and in turn they are doing a favour by hosting an event for the Government of Maharashtra, these people should be shown the door first! These guys think so much of themselves that they even tend to take an event which is a Central Government program very lightly, where dignitaries right from Central Ministers to our Chief Minister and Chief Secretary and many important people of our state, are present.
Problem is with our politicians. Why do we have so much craze and attractions with this filmy world? These agencies tap an important person in the government to invite this important person to big/small events where some B grade or C grade actors are present and our people are happy in that because they get to meet these actors in person, shake hands at the most, and sit in the first row next to them. They win the confidence of one such important person and in turn these event management companies brag about their connections to this person whom they have introduced to the glamour world, and treat our policies, rules and laws like shit, when they are awarded with government works. But our politicians are very smart. The minute they see anything coming on them, they will be the first ones to shed away their ‘friendships’ which are unknown to these event management companies.
Anyway, coming to the story. Hearing not so good things for DOME entertainment agency. At the recently held 27th National E governance conference at the JIO World BKC, this DOME company which is into events, has faulted on couple of occasions which not only created panic for the state government for a moment or so(as it was National Program with national leaders present) but also it resulted in embarrassment too, where the CM and the Chief Secretary were witnessing this. I have heard the bureaucracy is so upset with this company that they have decided to penalise this company from their decided remuneration.
The story goes like in September, When the Chief Minister came to inaugurate this 27th National E governance conference event there was no knife to cut the ribbon. Yes, imagine the plight of the CM. He somehow cut the ribbon from the corner (as there was no scissor) and the event was inaugurated. Secondly, on the stage there was no matchbox or candle to light the Diya which is considered auspicious in Hindus (as it was BJP and Shinde government) for any event to commence. Later, all of this was organised but generally no one faults in these basic etiquettes and duties when you have the CM as the guest and you are inaugurating anything. Imagine the CM and other dignitaries made to wait to get the matchbox….Now this casual attitude of this company has put the company in the spot. And the government, especially this DF government, does not take anything lightly. Hence I have heard the government is looking to penalise them in their rates. Also it is the same company who has won tenders to host events like UMANG and all. I seriously have my doubts that after this embarrassment, the government will even consider this company to not give any future projects.
Now I have heard a lot of bills are pending from the government and this company is running pillar to post to get it cleared. Sometimes they have used a ‘name’ to influence the officials, but when the ‘name’ comes to know how casual this company is, I am saying the bills will not be cleared, plus the company can be recommended for blacklisting too.
Now that Devendra Fadnavis has become the CM and decided to crack the whip on such errand vendors, there will be again law in this department. Errand Vendors will be shown their place and ‘atrupt aatma’ who are hurt by this move, will try to spread misinformation, which we all need to be away from!!
Dome, don’t get doomed like this! Write an apology to the government and sort it out…
Vikrant Hemant Joshi.
