Enthused with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call, the elected rural representatives in the State are utiliing social media applications to spread awareness on Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Campaign).
This, according to Government sources, is bearing fruits of success during the ongoing cleanliness drive wherein a large number of rural population is showing interest in the programmes carried out for the drive at district, block and panchayat levels.
“As many as 25 out of 4,036 mukhiyas are on facebook (FB) and connected with communities of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, Jharkhand Panchayat as well as the Drinking Water and Sanitation department. They are regularly updating the activities held in their respective areas for promoting Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. In Jharkhand such a response is undoubtedly a sign of development,” Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan state coordinator Ravindra Bohra said.
Besides, posting photos, updating status and liking activities related to cleanliness and sanitation, the rural representatives are being tagged by local NGO and administration members in the Clean India Campaign activities.
“My friends’ list has housewives, students, mukhiyas of the panchayats who usually give suggestions in my updates on what has been missed and what can be done to improve various programmes of the government. Recently, I posted a photo of the special gram sabha held on the occasion of Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan’s formal inauguration on October 2. The comments received help in knowing my drawbacks and improvements,” 40-year old Ramgarh district’s Muramkala village mukhiya Archana Mahto said.
Similarly, 29-year-old Shalini Gupta, pramukh of Koderma’s Domchach block said, “We can instantly share our thoughts through audio-visual medium in Whatsapp and facebook. I am more habituated of using Whatsapp. Discussions with representatives of other villages regarding any cleanliness or sanitation matter have become easier.”
Some of these representatives denote both facebook and Whatsapp a source of encouragement. “I am not friendly with twitter but the connection with facebook and Whatsapp has helped in communicating with Government officials and people of other villages. Photos of Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan are motivating denizens of village and other villages to maintain sanitation of hygiene in their anganwadis, houses and neighborhood,” said a mukhiya of Bero block’s Nehali Kapatu village in Ranchi district.
Sources working at State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) feel the increasing participation of mukhiyas and pramukhs in facebook has strengthened the communication process. “We have created a group named ‘Idea 4 Change’ on Whatsapp and ‘Jharkhand Panchayat’ on facebook to empower rural leaders,” sources said.