Indian officials to be allowed to use social media soon

Ahmedabad (India), Sep 9 - The Centre is planning to put in place a framework for government officials that would allow them to leverage power of social media, a top official of Department of Information and Technology (DIT) said here today.

 ÒWe are creating a framework that would help all the GoI departments and officials to make use of social media like Facebook, Twitter etc effectively,Ó Additional Secretary, DIT, Shankar Aggarwal told PTI on the sidelines of an event.

 ÒWe expect to give final shape to it in next two-three months and notify it,Ó he said.

 ÒThe idea (behind the proposal) is that they can enter into dialogue with public more freely, take suggestions, feedbacks and provide updates. It shall be more of a two-way rather than being a one-way communication,Ó Aggarwal stated.

 ÒThe social media is being used extensively by the civil society, but unfortunately, at present we don't have any framework for central and state governments,Ó he said.

 ÒThe government officers are scared of using social media because they are not sure whether they are allowed to use it or not. Even if they are allowed, then they are not sure what are the dos and don'ts,Ó Aggarwal said.

Meanwhile, the Centre is planning to introduce 'The Right to Public Services Act' soon that would make it mandatory for government entities to deliver public services in electronic form too.

 ÒWe have already created a framework and for this (Act) the framework is to be converted into a law. We think we will be able to introduce it in the next session of Parliament,Ó he said.

 ÒUnder this, what we shall be trying, is to ask the government entities to deliver all the public services in electronic form also. And it has to be achieved over next five years,Ó he informed.

 ÒWe are also planning to develop a payment gateway for the entire country so that people could pay electronically for various services,Ó Aggarwal said.