Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) officials are leaving no stone unturned to achieve the coveted tag of ‘Smart City’. While eyeing the top 20 cities list, several innovative methods are being adopted by the civic body officials before February 4, the day from which officially Ranchi will be assessed on different parameters by the experts of private agencies recruited by Quality Council of India (QCI).
However, one of the main components for ensuring equal participation of public in the survey and the most effective tool to analysis cleanliness in city, the ‘Swacchata’ mobile application is yet to be popular among the city residents. The mobile app designed especially for registering complains from different localities on solid waste management by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India covering different features is available in eight languages for public convenience.
Notably, as per the set parameters, minimum 25 thousand local residents must download the mobile application according to the ‘Swacchata Sarvekshan 2017’rules to be in the competition. Designed for resolving grievances in stimulated time, the complainants can upload clicked photographs of garbage-strewn streets, garbage pickers not reaching the spot on time, segregation of waste on spot and so on.
Options like votes for complaints, time consumed to solve cases, pictorial depiction of area covered up with waste materials etc makes this android based mobile application easy to use with several other contents as well. lack of publicity about the mobile application is yet to popularize the medium among the target group.
“We are trying to popularize the mobile application through massive campaign at schools, colleges and other public places through skits, competition etc. Separate team has been deployed to monitor the work progress as well. Out of 25 thousand people, approximately 14 residents at present are using the app. The target will be achieved before the deadline,” added, Mayor, Asha lakra.
Similarly, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Bidyanand Sharma too feels that it is not a tough job to cover up 25 thousand people under the proposal. “After checking out the response of people towards the app, we are sure that more number of people will join the league soon and we will achieve the target before January 3. All the grievances are sorted out same day. From 1 to 13 wards all the work is resolved under the ‘Essel Infra’ supervision and for rest wards, RMC labourers address the glitches. KPMG, a consultancy firm is monitoring the project,” said, Sharma.
Particularly, RMC has issued a Swacchta Sarvekshan 2017 Guideline, Swacchata Sarvek
shan 2017 self-assessment tool, Swacchta App to monitor and supervise the workers including Swacch Residence Welfare Association concept earlier this year. The assessment will be done out of 2000 points, under three important sub sections. For UlB 900 points are set whereas 600 points will be given after receiving the feedback for public while 500 is for direct observers who will monitor the procedure and keep a track of work progress.