Manipur Govt Missing on Social Media!
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: Ocotber 13, 2014 -

While the Central Government is planning to collaborate with social media giant Facebook in implementing certain flagship programmes in the country, Manipur Government is still in the dark about use of social media in governance.

Each and every ministry and department of the Central Government is on Facebook and Twitter connecting with millions of people across the globe.

Moreover, the President of India, Prime Minister and other Ministers of the Union Government maintain their official accounts on these social networking sites. Important announcements of the Government are made available instantly to the public through the social media.

Though social media cannot be considered wholly for governance, the growing popularity of social media among the people has to be taken into account in expanding the scope of the ambitious e-governance plan.

It will be worthwhile for the Government of Manipur to open up the official Facebook and Twitter accounts of the Chief Minister at least.

Almost all Chief Ministers of India are officially on the social networking sites. The netizens of Manipur often feel alienated in the absence of their Government on this social media platform.

Some Ministers and MLAs of the State do have their personal Facebook and Twitter accounts, but that cannot serve the people in terms of governance.

The Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) should take the initiative to include Manipur Government in this social media revolution.

Some officers and employees of the State Government can be trained and deployed to handle all official social media accounts of the Government.

This task will not require much manpower and money. Only a handful of skilled employees can be deployed in running the “Social Media Cell” of the State Government.

However, mere opening of the official accounts of Facebook and Twitter will not serve the purpose unless the accounts are updated and handled regularly in a proper way.

Few years back, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Manipur opened an official Facebook account in connection with the 10thManipur Legislative Assembly Election in 2012.

The launching of Manipur CEO on Facebook was well publicized by the media and the CEO received warm response from the public with many friend requests and posts within few days.

However, all expectations of the public were marred after the CEO failed to respond or update on his official account. It might not have been possible for the CEO to use Facebook at that time due to hectic schedule, but he could have deployed some responsible officials to maintain the account in public interest.

The CEO’s official Facebook account was indeed the first attempt of Manipur Government to join the social media revolution, but it failed. Since then, no attempt is made by Manipur Government to use social media for governance.

Apart from this trend of social media, the State Government also needs to reach out the e-governance plan to every nook and corner of the State.

The Government should also take up all needful steps to ensure Manipur’s active participation in the “Digital India” mission.