'Politicians can connect with public through social media’

It is important for leaders to reach out to people using social media, says Minister for Food and Civil Supplies

The world over, technology and social media are playing a role in how leaders reach out and connect with people, said S. Gopalakrishnan (Kris), Non-Executive Vice Chairman, Infosys Technologies Limited.

He was speaking after inaugurating the website of Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Dinesh Gundu Rao, here on Saturday. The website has been developed by the professionals’ cell of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) .

Use of social media

He said, with 850 million people owning mobile phones now, it is important for leaders to interact with and reach out to people using social media as well as respond through live feeds.

He added that the “transformation we are going through now will accelerate as the youth is born with this technology.”

Mr. Rao said social media was used significantly in the Lok Sabha elections and it is important to leverage it. “Today’s youth have high aspirations and regularly use mobile phones, net and social media for information,” he added.

Bridging the gap

He said that politicians should use all ways to reach out to the people. “Very soon there would be a situation wherein no person in public life would be able to manage without using social media,” he added.

Ramadas Kamath, Executive Vice President, Infosys, said technology could help bridge the distance between people and leaders.