The DIT Government Of Maharashtra finally shows some digital love by launching a new mobile app christened “Maharashtra Govt. Resolutions” along with three other apps. This app provides searching and retrieval of all Government Resolutions by connecting to the official website of Government of Maharashtra in the backend.
The mobile app, once downloaded on a mobile device is easy to operate as the application interface is bi-lingual (English and Marathi). Users can search any GR by giving department name, title/keywords, Date-Range or Unique Code of GR, etc. in search fields. Users can also save downloaded GRs as PDF files. A smart notification feature alerts users of any new resolutions released since their last login. This Mobile App is available for Android based mobile phones on Google Play store. Any citizen can download and use this app, free-of-cost on any android based mobile device. To download this app, please visit “What’s New” section of the Maharashtra government website at www.maharashtra.gov.in. This App requires working internet connection (2G or 3G).
The Maharashtra Govt. Resolutions was not the only app launched as the Government Of Maharashtra also released three other apps – Mahanews Mobile App, Lokrajya Mobile App and Accessible Places Mobile App.
Mahanews Mobile Application
This mobile application will show updated real time news on mobile devices from Mahanews portal www.mahanews.gov.in, which is the official news website of Government of Maharashtra. This news portal provides real time, updated, news about day-to-day functioning of Maharashtra Government, Mantralaya News, Hon. CM, DCM and other minister’s program etc. News clippings are supported by photographs and video clips. This app also provides summary of job opportunities from the government sector in Maharashtra.
Lokrajya Mobile Application:
Lokrajya Magazine now has a mobile application which has also been developed by DIT. The App is free to download and can be accessed in 2 languages: English and Marathi. The App allows users to view all issues from 2010 until now. They can download issues they wish to read and they are saved locally for offline reading. Users also have the option to highlight sections, make notes and share the issue with others using social media sharing options such as Facebook and Email. A notification is sent to the user as soon as a new issue is made available.
Accessible Places in Maharashtra App:
This is a crowd sourced application wherein People with different types of disabilities can view disabled friendly places around their location as well as add new places to the database to help increase awareness about such places. Places can be categorised by type of amenity such as bank, ATM, park etc as well as type of facility such as wheelchair access, Braille etc. users can also upload images of the location to help visualise and identify the locations of the accessibility options.
Apart from the apps, the DIT govt of Maharashtra is launching/showcasing a lot of initiatives to provide easy accessibility and e-governance to citizens. The broad objectives are to enable transparency and reduce queues and wait times for resolutions. UID and eKYC forms the basis of all the services disbursed by the govt. Whether its providing same day citizen name change service, or rent agreement registration from home or even getting more citizens on to the banking system (more than 60cr Indian citizens are out of the banking system) the Maharashtra govt is gung ho on digital. Citizens can now also interact with the govt by using USSD (UnStructured Service Data) codes like *166#. These codes are bidirectional and using USSD codes doesn’t require you to have a smartphone.
We’ll have to wait and watch how this initiative pans out when it comes to usage of these services across the state. But it’s good to see the government taking active measures to provide information digitally to citizens.
– With inputs from ‘Siddharth Parwatay‘