Social-media and Prosperity

The Government is always trying to work on many levels so that only the factual and official information reaches to the general public. Some years back people used to get information about the government schemes along with the news about the world through radio, newspapers and news channels. But now along with these media, the people are trying to connect themselves to the world with the help of social media. Considering this change in the mode of communication, the administration is making use of Facebook along with an official website to communicate information about the proposed Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg project. How is the administration trying to communicate information about the Samruddhi project? This is a review about the way in which people are reacting to this new way of communication.

After the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made an announcement about the Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg project, the responsibility of making this project come to life was taken up by Maharashtra State Road Development Cooperation. On one hand, the information about the project was being circulated through traditional communication media like the newspapers and news channels; while on the other hand, the administration was taking efforts to reach and connect with the maximum people through official Facebook page and the website. Roughly around the first half of the year 2017, the official Facebook page and the website was opened up for the public.

In the beginning, the information about the project was published in English language. The administration established a channel of communication by using a very effective social media platform, that is Facebook, to communicate with people in Marathi language. Taking into account the need of the people, the Marathi language website was soon launched. Instead of just providing dry information about the project, the entire process of the same was explained by using audio visual media. These efforts of connecting with the people is still going on without any break.

As the project progressed, the new, authentic information was presented on the website and also on Facebook page. The detailed information about the beneficiaries and the compensation which they received was published on the website. Also, there were timely reviews which communicated the stage at which this project was.

On the Facebook page, people not just ‘liked’ the page, but they also expressed their views and concerns about it. Today, this official Facebook page has over 52,000 likes. A similar number of people have been engaged with this project. This number has only been increasing.

Through this medium, people not only praised the project, but they also expressed their concerns and difficulties they faced during the entire process of this project. Most of the concerns were addressed and questions answered. Today, the rate of answering the questions on Facebook is more than 80%.

The administration is hopeful that the response on the website and the Facebook page will keep on increasing. In future, the administration is positive on keeping up with their efforts of publishing relevant information at every stage in the project.