NEW DELHI: In the Narendra Modi-led government, crowd means company, and crowd sourcing the best bet to engage with more and more people. Buoyed by the success of his hit formula during his election campaign, the Prime Minister has made crowd sourcing the buzzword in his government. From seeking inputs for a mobile app for the PMO and name, tagline to song and slogans for key Central government schemes announced recently, the government is reaching out to people for ideas. And for incentive there are cash rewards too, like Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 for three best entries selected.
The creative corner on www.mygov.in lists about 19 tasks for which ideas are needed—the latest being invitations for designs and a concept plan for a mobile application for the PMO’s website, www.pmindia.gov.in. The idea is that a substantial number of people access the net through mobile phones and is one of the best mediums to reach out. The requirement is that the app should be reader friendly and have top quality design, images and banners. Nearly 150 people have already sent their design and ideas for the same.
The NDA government has been crowd sourcing other ideas too like asking people to name the new Planning Commission, design e-cards for Gandhi Jayanti, coin a catchy name for Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana, create a song for Swachh Bharat which is slated for launch on October 2 and designing a logo for PM’s Digital India scheme, among others.
Modi during his poll campaign had used crowd sourcing as an important medium to connect with a large number of people. Even the BJP manifesto for Lok Sabha election was crowd-sourced and before holding rallies in any cities, Modi used to ask people about issues they would like him to touch upon. This also helped his campaign team to get the pulse of the people and zero in on election issues that mattered.
“This is an effort by the PM to connect with youngsters and give them a platform to showcase their innovative zeal and also enable them to leave an imprint on India’s history. The message is simple, that your skill, your creativity and your ideas become India’s pride and it gives each and every citizen of the country an opportunity to creatively engage with various government departments,” said an official handling the whole exercise.
The official said it is an elaborate programme as from time to time, ministries will need creative inputs on the creativity related aspects of their initiatives. The scope is extensive, the work intensive and the end result extremely satisfying. The government has already crowd-sourced DAVP advertisements for Independence Day and now even for Gandhi Jayanti.
Another plus side to crowd sourcing is that had the government hired any professional agency, it would have cost them much and here they are getting ideas from across the world on incentive basis. Besides, people will feel that the government has made the process more inclusive by giving them a say in things happening and planned in the country.
The PMO has also created an Open Forum—a one-stop platform to share views and ideas on issues of national importance under nine groups like caring for the specially-abled, Clean Ganga, Digital India, Girl Child Education, Green India, Incredible India, Job Creation, Manual Scavenging-Free India, Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Skill Development, Swachh Bharat and Watershed Management.
“We are seeking ideas from people on issues that concern everyone. The objective of each of these groups is to prepare a policy framework and gather suggestions that can be used for finding a solution. It like making billion minds think,” the official said, adding that the punch line for the mygov initiative signed by Modi does all the talking—“Let us join the mass movement toward surajya, realise the hopes and aspirations of the people and take India to greater heights”.