Students of various colleges and universities will be entrusted with the task of preparing a report on the rush, facilities and on social media responses during the ongoing Krishna Pushkarams. The idea is to hone their analytical skills and tap the service and business potential of the 12-day event.
Many student-volunteers are serving the devotees at pushkar ghats, pushkar nagars, bus stations, satellite stations and temples during the festival. The pushkar sevaks, who are studying the crowd management, will be encouraged to float startup companies in tourism and other sectors, said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
“The footages collected from Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs), drones and video footages will be given to students who will interpret on different aspects. They will submit a report to the government on their observations,” said Mr. Naidu.
A pushkar sevak, B. Madhu, a third year engineering student, said that many students are collecting the public opinion posted in various social media sites. Devotees posted comments on facilities, security arrangements for the utsavams, trading, transportation, publicity, quality of food items and other aspects, he said.
“Pilgrims from different states and districts are attending the festival. We are guiding them and collecting their opinion on the facilities arranged for the festival. Our field study will be helpful for us in different ways and students can acquire knowledge on the culture and tradition,” said Ch. Mrudula, a PG student.
The Chief Minister said the data collected different gadgets, social media sites would be sent to the colleges and universities, who would interpret and submit a report. Based on their ideas, government would go for commercialisation.
After observing the footages and photographs, the student-volunteers were expected to come up with some innovative ideas for improving facilities at the ghats and other public places. Their opinions would be considered, he said.
“We want to involve the youngsters in collecting data, analysing, crowd management, observing facilities, social service, and in extending other services to the pilgrims. If the report (from students) suggests for commercialisation, government will encourage business,” said Mr. Naidu. Youth can go for start-up companies and the government would support them as there was a lot of tourism potential in Vijayawada, the Chief Minister said, adding that this was an opportunity for students to harness their talent.
The Government, in association with students, would conduct an in-depth study on services being extended by various departments, private companies, NGOs, and individuals. “We have been receiving likes from devotees through social media sites every day and we take the positive and negative comments into account and try to improve amenities in the coming days and other festivals,” he said.
