Not all is so flashy about the much-touted CM Connect app launched by the government. There have been some comments that exposed the official apathy.
The officials haven’t issued pattadar passbook (denoting the title deed) to a farmer in the Amaravati Capital region. The farmer brought the issue to the notice of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu five times in vain. The farmer’s reaction indicates the magnitude of corruption and accountability in the governance.
The issue came to light when Mr. Naidu read out the responses of the public to a question on ‘what is your opinion on governance’ during the launch of mobile app CM Connect, which runs on Microsoft’s Kaizala platform, at the Secretariat at Velagapudi near here on Friday.
Even while complimenting the CM on governance, the farmer said, “You have instructed the line officials to issue the passbook. It happened five times. Still, the VRO is demanding a bribe to issue the passbook.”
Loan waiver
Another farmer from East Godavari district complained that the second instalment of his loan waiver was never delivered despite repeated visits to the authorities concerned. “I even visited the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha. Hardly there is any response,” he said.
‘Road not laid’
Another person from Prakasam district brought to the notice of the CM that the local TDP MLA promised to build a road in his village but had failed to keep the word.
One user from Vizianagaram district heaped praise on Mr. Naidu and Union Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapati Raju but complained about lack of development in his village. “The State seems to be developing but not our village,” he wrote.
“People are happy with our government but it is coming with a rider,” the Chief Minister remarked, reading out the responses. He said over 3,000 users had responded to their question “Are you satisfied with the government’s performance?”
Featureless app
“A whopping 75% rated the government’s performance as good with just four per cent saying it was bad. I will have a team in my office to monitor the public response and take required action,” he said.
The CM Connect is virtually a featureless mobile app, which is said to be a “unique app in the world” through which people could connect directly with a head of the State. The people have to merely respond to a question (card) posted by the government. There are no options in the app to reach the CM suo motu . If any person wishes to lodge a complaint or submit grievance, there is no provision. At the most a user can do is write down his/her grievance or compliant in the comments column of the question.
Asked about the lack of features, the Chief Minister said some would be added soon.
“This is a very interesting experiment we are doing using technology. This is unique not only in the country but also in the world. People should be positive and be truthful in their response,” he added.
