The Indian Express 13.08.2013
NDMC on Facebook to redress complaints faster
A presence on Facebook, NDMC officials believe, will help the
civic body in two ways. One, it will open up the organisation —
considered a closed body that lacks transparency — to the public. Two,
the move, they believe, will help senior officials within NDMC keep a
tab on the various departments of the council.
An initiative of its newly appointed chairperson, Jalaj
Srivastava, the Facebook page will be monitored by senior officials of
the council. Citizens, through their posts, can draw the attention of
NDMC officials to various civic problems.
The chairperson is even considering going public on Twitter. With
almost every senior official owning a smartphone today, it is a good
way to redress problems that people in the council’s jurisdiction,
Srivastava said.
“People may ask why Facebook? The council should have gone public
on the social networking site long ago. People may or may not check
their e-mails but they surely do check Facebook or Twitter. So, if they
know we are available to address any issue, whether it is a complaint
related to sanitation or something else, they can lodge their complaints
without much effort,” the chairperson said.
Though the response time is yet to be decided, Srivastava believed it would be quick.
O P Mishra, (director projects), NDMC, has been given charge of
looking after the Facebook page and ensuring that the complaints are
addressed by the department concerned.
“Already, we have received two complaints on Facebook and we are taking steps to address them,” Mishra said.
The NDMC Facebook page carries several pictures like the Palika Bhawan building, gardens and India Gate.
