Modi effect: UP logs on to Twitter, Facebook for governance

Close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg in New Delhi and dwelling upon the importance of social media in governance, Uttar Pradesh has followed suit.

The state government has decided to use popular social media platforms viz. Twitter and Facebook to propagate public welfare schemes and create more awareness about them.

UP chief secretary Alok Ranjan today directed all principal secretaries and secretaries to nominate a nodal officer in their respective departments for this exercise in concert with the state information and public relations wing.

The nodal officer would be mandated to apprise the information department about important decisions taken during the day in a standard format in both Hindi and English mediums.

The departments would be required to send information regarding schemes and government orders (GO) decisions at least once every 15 days. The information department would later upload such information via Facebook and Twitter.

This is aimed at speedy and transparent dissemination of information amongst the general public and incorporating a system of getting regular feedback from the people.

Ranjan noted it was a common grievance that people were not getting timely and correct information about various schemes, programmes and GOs of the state government.

The judicious use of social media would ensure the schemes get maximum publicity and reach amongst the masses.

Modi has been an avid user of social media. Ever since, he assumed the PM's office, the different departments have been eager to adopt such mediums to connect with people.