It seems that District Collectors, like politicians, are also trying their hands on social networking sites to interact with the public. The latest to join the bandwagon is Ernakulam District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth who opened his Facebook account on Monday.
The Facebook page of the collector provides information on him, various programmes taking place in the district and photographs of various official programmes attended by him. Assistant Collector S Suhas would look after the page.
On the Facebook page, which can be accessed at www.facebook.com/dcekm, it has been posted that it is the page of the district administration of Ernakulam providing an informal platform for interaction, suggestions, sharing innovative ideas about implementing government welfare schemes or working of all government departments.
It also aims at disseminating the necessary information to the public and bringing transparency in administration and quick decision-making by way of direct interaction.
Besides, it will help elicit views and suggestions from the public for improving the working of the administration.
In a post, the District Collector states that it is an initiative of e-governance through effective participation of the people. Members of the public should avoid posting politically motivated messages, unimportant issues, personal wishes and un-parliamentary language. Constructive and positive criticism are welcome, the post says.
According to a press release from the PRD, even before the official launch of the Collector’s facebook page, over 260 people posted ‘like’ on the page. By Monday evening, around 305 people ‘liked’ the page within a few minutes of its launch. The page would also be used as an unofficial communication channel with the Collector and it can be used for submitting their complaints and requests to him.