Two great ideas…but do they work?
A few weeks ago Amitabh alerted me to two very interesting initiatives launched by Shivraj Singh’s government in Bhopal recently.
The first is a website called “MP Samadhan” – a site specifically developed to deal with public grievances (“Samaadhaan” can be loosely translated as satisfactory resolution of a query/complaint/grievance etc).
The second is called “Ideas for CM” which explicitly asks for people’s “…help in fulfilling the aspirations of development and credible Governance” in MP. Â
Unfortunately when I asked some friends and others about the websites, they had never heard of them 🙁
If any of you have family/friends in MP, can you please find out if they a] are aware of these sites and b] have used them personally?
In case you have not come across it before, the Union Government too has a website to deal with public grievances. Again, I am not sure how many of you have heard about it.
Pl. feel free to share any experience(s) of these sites with readers of the blog. Thanks a lot.
P.S. Interestingly, some of the best/most-applauded/innovative CMs in recent times are coming out of BJP-ruled states…Modi (feted recently by corporate India), Shivaraj Singh Chauhan, Dr Raman Singh and Nitish Singh (CNN-IBN Politician of the Year). Signs of change?
Hi Shanthanu,
I enjoyed going through your posts. Nice site!
First, kudos to Shivraj Singh, for these excellent initiatives!!! They are indeed the vehicles towards good governance.
It is unfortunate that not many people know about them and use them. But I would say it is too premature to say that they don’t work. This is practically the case with any change (remember when Internet was launched, everybody had said it would not work in India. IRCTC, internet banking brought similar apprehensions in people’s minds.
The reasons that I see why they have not been so successful till now are, possibly:
1. The project owners haven’t promoted/marketed them well. There general awareness about these initiatives is very low. Even the city-dwelling, educated and internet savvy folks haven’t even heard about them, forget using them.
2. Computer literacy in the state is still very low.
3. Access to computers is still limited in the state.
The departments which have to handle large volumes of grievances/queries should put up computers/kiosks in their offices to maximize the awareness and help increase wide usage of such tools.
At least, I am very positive about these initiatives. Am sure with the right implementation approach and a strong political will 🙂 (umm…not sure, will that be needed, really?), each one will be a success story.
Thanks,
Shantanu,
I am from Indore and I have quite a few friends there who have heard of this and plan to use this website.
We had a little discussion about this on my blog(http://cutchaiblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/common-man.html ) in Jan. Here are some excerpts.
First –
“Everyday, between office and home, I come across innumerable things which I feel can be improved and should be improved, there are so many ideas as to how they can be improved. There are so many platforms where we can take them up.
One such platform – Recently, the CM of MP launched a site – http://www.ideasforcm.in – where you can give ideas and they would be taken up by the government. As a first step, I, made a resolve that I will post I such idea every fortnight, which I felt will really bring a change.”
Second,
“Could not agree with you more Anupam/Ajay.But to be honest cynicism is so deep rooted in an average middle class Indian like me that I look upon the MP CM site nothing more than a gimmick.
Still atleast a start has been made,small step in right direction would help in achieving big things.Being one who is at hotbed of all the action in Indore I vouch to contribute towards making change happen at grass root level.Amen”
Anupam
Hi Shanthanu
I have been a long time reader of this blog although I have never commented here before. I find your posts very interesting and good to read. Keep up the good work.
BTW I think the CNN-IBN politician of the year was Nitish Kumar and he is from the JD(U) and not the BJP, but he is a part of the NDA.
Thanks
Madhav
I am from MP but moved out in 1997, but visit often and keep in touch as my parents still stay there.
I had not heard of the “MPSamadhan” or “Ideas for CM” (nor the central gov. grievance website), but I checked them out just now. It is a good beginning I think but it will take a looooong time and lot of hard work to make them effective and establish people’s trust in using this channel to resolve their problems. Some examples of positive success, and their widespread marketing in media will help. (eg. “XYZ, common man, filed a greivance, and it received prompt action and was resolved within 2 weeks !”).
MPSamadhan is only in Hindi (one also needs to type out the complaint in Hindi), and ideas for CM is only in English. An English option in ‘MP Samadhan’ will make it more accessible for people like me, and possibly Hindi option on ‘Ideas for CM’ will make it accessible to many.
I did try to contact my district MP using email once advertised on his NIC website (I was very impressed that the website existed !). But unfortunately the email bounced back. I could contact him eventually via phone though, and also in person.
Lesson : these are good initiatives and should be applauded and encouraged, but we need to go beyond the outer cover and ensure that they actually work and are sustainable.
Experts (Professors, PhD students working on eGovernance etc at LSE, London, with many years of research/field-work in India) believe that majority eGov initiatives in India (and other developing countries) are not that successful. Notable exceptions are finance, payment related initiatives (eg. Railway Reservation system, bill payments, ongoing Tax online)- they have been successful.
thx,
Dipinder
I am from Bhopal. Ideas for CM is a nice initiative. I saw ads in Hindi newspapers the day it launched. I used it the very next day to submit an idea, but neither I got the automated email nor my account was created. Probably they hired bad coders.
BTW, opposition criticized the CM saying he copied the concept from Idea telecom.
Dipinder,
Websites exist for all the districts of Madhya Pradesh. However, they are updated hardly and the content is old. I don’t think district offices maintain them.
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Thanks,
Abhinav
@Satyask: Thanks…Hope to see you here more often
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@ PS: You are right…Perhaps it is too premature to write them off…Lack of sufficient marketing and access to computers are probably the two main reasons…Kiosks sound like a great idea…Will anyone actually do it though? I don’t know
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@ Anupam: Thanks…It is encouraging to read that the residents are actually trying these ideas out…I will be very interested to hear their experiences.
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@ Madhav: Thanks…and well spotted…You are right. Nitish Kumar is NDA but not BJP.
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@ Dipinder: Thanks for your comment..I am curious to hear whether your interaction with your local MP wa ssuccessful or not.
@ Abhinav: Sorry I missed your comment…I am sad but not suprised by your experience…As others have noted, the idea is good but a lot needs to happen before it works smoothly…However, letr us at leaset give the administration some points for trying.
Thanks
dear Mr.shantanu,
very heartening to see the ideas that have come from Mr.Shivraj chauhan, CM of MP. wonderful and i hope all discerning people across india definitely submit some good ideas to MP govt., for its consideration and implementation.
i am living in chennai for the past so many years and i have seen the problems of many here and would like to recommend such ideas to get introduce it in Tamilnadu. it is hightime that such activities should come-up and be introduced vigorously.
hareindharan
The Government of India and the Indian elite make much of “education” as an imperative for the development of a modern India. Yet see no irony in choosing to be ruled by a high-school drop-out who lied about her academic achievement and whose proclaimed dynastic successor has academic qualifications that are highly suspect. Below are telling examples of the worth of their “education”.
From Shivraj pooh-poohs Sonia, Rahul’s claims by Mahim Pratap Singh
sir cm
here in mp vidhansabha no 120 tendukheda tehsil me 18 hours bijli katauti ho rhi hai?
rasoi gas 450_500 rs me bik rhi hai ?
govt koi action le immidiately
rahul g par dhyan mat do mulbhoot samasyaye suljhao
shri maan cm ji sadar pranam
aap ideas for cm website chalakar bahut sarahniy karya kiye hai mera sujhav yah hai ki aapake dwara krishi pump upbhotayo ko 50% bill me chhut dekar bahut achha kam kiya hai lekin yah chhut sirf aap yase upbhotayo ko diye hai jo kabhi bill ka bhugtan nahi karate hai aur jo niyamit bill ka bhugtan karate hai unake liye apake dwara koi chhut nahi diya gaya jo bahut galat nirnaya hai kyoki chhut ke pahale mpeb ke dwara garib upbhotayo ko notish bhejakar ya jail bhejkar unase apana bill jama karwa liye aur jo bade upbhota unaka mpeb dwara koi karywahi nahi kiya gaya aur unako chhut mill gaya mera apase vinram nivedan hai ki aap niymit billing karane wale upbhotayo ko bhi bill me 50% ki chhut dene ki mahan kripa kare
thankas
RAJENDRA SHAH RAJMILAN
SINGRAULI M.P.
shri maan ji sadar pranam
mera yah dusara sujhav hai hame asha aur vishvash hai ki aap mera yah sujhav padhenge amal me layenge aaj kal berojgari bahut trivrata ke sath badh rahi hai ishake liye mera nimn sujhav hai——————
1- aap berojgaro ko chayan kar unake liye berojgari bhatta chalu kijiye aur unaka upyog kishi kshetra kijiye jisase sarkar ki aay badhegi aur berojgaro rojgar milaga ishaka chayan nimn prakar se kijiye —- Msc, Mcom,KOI BHI POST GREDGUTE BEROJGAR JO NIYMIT RUP SE PADHAI KARAKE BHI BEROJGAR HAI SABASE PAHALE USAKO BEROJGARI BHATTA DIJIYE
2- AAPAKE DWARA CHALAI GAYI TAMAM YOJNAYO KI JANKARI GRAMIN ANCHAL KE LOGO KO NAHI MILATI HAI AUR JANKARI MIL BHI GAYI TO USAKO KAISE KARANA HAI ISAKE ABHAV ME VAH LOG LABH SE VANCHIT RAH JATE HAI ISAKE LIYE IN BEROJGARO KO KAMISSON BASE PAR KAM PAR RAKHA JA SAKATA HAI
3- BEROJGARO KO BAHUT SHARI MALTI NATION COMPANIYO JAISE LIC,HDFC,ICICI,SATET BANK FASHILATAR,ETC.ME AJENT NIYUT KIYA JAY AUR INAKO BEROJGARI BHATTA BHI DIYA JAY JAB TAK INAKA AAY ACHHA N PRAPT HO INAKA CHAYAN UCHCHA CLASS SE KIYA JAY JAISE MSC,MCOM,BA,BCOM ETC
MUJHE PURD AASHA AUR VISHWASH HAI KI AAP IN SUJHAVO PAR VICHAR JARUR KAREGE
THANKS
AAPAKA SEWAK
RAJENDRA SHAH
RAJMILAN SINGRAULI M.P.
Mb NO. 9630101028
EMAIL-rajendra.shah12@gmail.com
Honourable chief minister shri yut shivraj singh chouhan we can solve the unemployment problem to reduce the retirement age of women at 55yearsand provide full pension. because they are not capable do his work peoperly at this age. medically after 50 she tired physically, mentaly her fitness not allow to do work promtly.isake alawa gov.provided many facility,we can generate lakhs of vaccancies in differnt govt. department since. 1986 govt. has not published vaccencies for general categeory.therefopre it is essensial to take revolutionary action,it will also benificial for party vote bank .
young blood blindly support to govt.
{Shantanu, please move this comment to the “corruption” / “transparency” category as approprite. I could not easily find those older articles. Thank you.}
Social Transparency talks of a new project — the Technology for Transparency Network under Global Voices Online.
An earlier post (Basic concepts, easy solutions) described the use of simple devices like the Question Box for technology aids to combating the corruption/transparency problem. Please do check these out and how India (we the people) can put these to use.
Sir yadi pradushan hatana hai to har gram panchayat me 2 adamio ko rakha jaye jo sirf parayawaran par kam kare unako sashan ki taraf se vetan diya jaye bo 2 adami barsat ane par apane gram panchayat ki sabhi sadko ke kinare tree lagaye, 2 sejano me un tree ki raksha ke liye kante rakhe unaki dekh rekh kare , dono adamio ka nirisan gram panchayat dvara ki jaye ki be dono adami sahi tareke se apana kam kare . Yadi yah process vidhansabha,jila va rajya level taka ki jay to ham paryawaran pradusan ko kafi had tak kam kar sakte. Mai asha karta hu ki aap is idea ko accept kar isko jaldi lagu karva denge. Thanks(my name is yograj shukla from pateri satna m.P.)
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