Citizen Engagement in an Emerging Economy: An Example of Technology Platform in India

Dr Anup Kumar Das

For World Bank MOOC: Engaging Citizens: A Game Changer for Development?

MyGov.in• In this case study I will focus on

MyGov.in portal, which is a Citizen Engagement Technology Platform of Government of India.

• The platform gives people the opportunity to work towards the good governance through their ideas, suggestions and grassroots level contributions.

Final Takeaways from WB MOOC

1. Citizen Engagement, when done well, is a very powerful vehicle to create meaningful change and improve development outcomes.

2. Beyond its instrumental value, citizen engagement also holds intrinsic value and is a cornerstone of political rights and human dignity.

3. Despite the benefits that citizen engagement programs can bring, there is no template or one-size-fits-all approach that can be applied everywhere.

4. Strategic citizen engagement programs, which are long-term and multifaceted, tend to work better than tactical and short-term programs.

5. It is important not to do things just for the sake of doing them. Instead, we must start with a clear objective.

6. Technology can greatly increase the scalability and reach of citizen engagement programs, as well as increase efficiency and reduce participation costs. However, it cannot fundamentally alter the relationship between governments and citizens on its own.

Thank You for Your Kind Attention.

Photos Courtesy: MyGov.in

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