Mumbai, Sept 2026 : The Information, Education and Communication (IEC) department has an important role to play not only in effectively disseminating information about health schemes and programmes to citizens but also in bringing about positive behavioural changes among them, Minister of State for Public Health and Family Welfare Meghana Sakore-Bordikar said.
She directed officials to undertake innovative initiatives to give health education a wider reach through awareness campaigns, public participation and effective communication.
A review meeting of the functioning and progress of the IEC department of the Public Health Department was held at Arogya Bhavan under the chairpersonship of Minister of State Meghana Sakore-Bordikar.
Sakore-Bordikar said the focus of health awareness campaigns should not be limited to disseminating information, but should be on bringing about positive behavioural changes among citizens. Effective IEC activities should be planned keeping in mind health campaigns, various health days, festivals and local requirements.
She also stressed the need for coordinated participation of social organisations, NGOs, educational institutions and the media to increase public participation in such initiatives.
She directed officials to plan IEC activities in accordance with the annual programme and ensure effective implementation through appropriate media of initiatives approved by the respective programme heads. Proposals for IEC initiatives should be prepared and implemented after obtaining the necessary approvals in accordance with government resolutions issued by the Information and Public Relations Department and through state-level IEC grants.
District-level IEC initiatives should be implemented effectively through District Extension and Media Officers, with regular reviews of their progress, she said.
Information and awareness material required for health campaigns should be prepared according to the objectives of each programme and distributed appropriately. While providing necessary guidance for district-level IEC activities, emphasis should also be placed on developing effective and citizen-centric awareness material for various health programmes.
The minister also directed officials to ensure regular publication of the Maharashtra Arogya Patrika and encourage innovative initiatives in the IEC sector.
To make Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) more effective, innovative initiatives should be developed with the active participation of NGOs and social organisations, she said.
Sakore-Bordikar also called for coordination with NGOs and international organisations operating in the state, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Service Scheme (NSS), the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Railways Outreach Bureau and the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to give IEC and BCC initiatives a wider reach.
The meeting also discussed the proposed implementation of the ‘Arogya Doot’ initiative for journalists, students, and at district and taluka levels. The minister emphasised the need to involve journalists, students and various local stakeholders in disseminating accurate health-related information among citizens.
Commissioner Sanjay Katkar, Commissioner (Urban) Dr Sunil Bhokare, Director Dr Vijay Kandewad, Deputy Secretary Rajashree Sarang, Deputy Director (IEC) Dr Bhagwan Pawar and Assistant Director Dr Sanjaykumar Jathar, among other officials, were present at the meeting.
