Microsoft collaborates with Maha govt to build applications for social cause

Microsoft India has partnered with the Government of Maharashtra to build apps for social cause. It is conducting Windows AppFest in Pune in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra to ideate and create apps addressing social and civic issues like health, education, women security and transport.

The initiative will encourage app developers to initiate and create solutions that address social and civic issues. These applications will help civil authorities seek alternative methods of interacting with citizens. The top three apps will be selected for a presentation at a conference hosted by Asian Development Bank. Microsoft is conducting two day Windows AppFest in Pune. Maharashtra is the first state in country  with whom Microsoft has tied up for social cause. Over 2000 developers are participating in this AppFest.

"App marketplaces are now proving to be viable platforms to host e-governance and socially relevant apps. Such apps can provide citizen-centric services in a secure manner, while ensuring increased transparency, reliability and efficiency in services. Cloud computing also enables e-governance solutions to be much more scalable and accessible. Microsoft, with its various initiatives including the Windows AppFest for social good in Pune, provides a good platform for app builders to ideate and create solutions to address social and civic issues," said Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary IT, Government of Maharashtra.

Sanket Akerkar, Managing Director, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. said "The Windows AppFest represents how  a new generation is tackling the challenges of government by using technology and collective action.  The collective capability of the developer population in India is going to play a key role in fueling this movement across the world. With this Windows AppFest,Microsoft is focusing on encouraging app developers to build apps for social good on the Windows platform."