Finally, the AAP Government has created a ‘WhatsApp Group’ for its Ministers and top officials to speed up decision making in the national Capital. The application has been put in order to make maximum use of the digital technology for rapid exchange of information and directives within the administrative machinery. The Government has already directed its HoDs, principal secretaries and secretaries to make full use of mobile messaging application for quick exchange of information.
While the decision related to setting up of the mobile application was taken over last week, it was operationalised at a recent meeting of the HODs after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia insisted that the digital application should be immediately put in use. According to sources, when Sisodia sought details about what preparations had been made for the digital application, officials informed that they are working on it and a new connection has been purchased and the list of mobile numbers of officers was being updated.
The Deputy Chief Minister then asked his IT (secretary) to create the group. Finally IT (secretary) created the WhatsApp group of “HoDs GNCTD” at the meeting and Principal Secretary (Urban Development) was group administrator. The deputy Chief Minister is also in the HoDs WhatsApp Group.
Earlier Principal Secretary (general administration department) Arvind Ray had been assigned the job to prepare the ‘WhatsApp Group’ for the HoDs and secretaries to the city Ministers. The primary aim of the group would be to communicate urgent messages from the Government to its officers for quick decision-making. The principal secretary or special secretary (general administration department) will reportedly be the group administrator.
So far, two Whatsapp groups — one of the IAS Association AGMUT and the other of the Delhi Disaster Management — were in operation where officers had been communicating online with each other. They even exchange ideas and suggestions to improve upon their day-to-day functioning.
A senior bureaucrat said that the idea of communicating through WhatsApp would ensure there was no delay in communicating decisions and suggestions of the AAP Government to its senior officers. He said the main purpose of the application was to enhance connectivity with the use of modern technology within the administration.