The popular social networking sites — Facebook will take the message of clean India campaign — Swachh Bharat — launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, to the districts and blocks of the country.
In view of the immense reach of social media platform in the country, the ministry of drinking water and sanitation has directed all states to create Facebook pages for each district and block and engage people on safe sanitary and hygiene practices.
“All states are requested to appreciate the immense potential of social media and Facebook in particular as a platform for information dissemination. It is therefore requested all states may kindly note the following for appropriate pro-active initiative,” a note sent to all states said.
The initiatives include creation of Facebook page by the state and district and block water and sanitation departments. For maintaining these sites the states will identify officials who will create content in the form of short video clips and photographs.
“At the block level, for example, a Facebook page on water sanitation and hygiene may be created in the name of block and one block coordinator may be given responsibility of content creation and administration,” the note said.
{{/usCountry}}“At the block level, for example, a Facebook page on water sanitation and hygiene may be created in the name of block and one block coordinator may be given responsibility of content creation and administration,” the note said.
{{/usCountry}}The districts and blocks that effectively use Facebook as a communication tool will be awarded through certificates and incentives.
The decision has been taken, sources said, in view of fast penetration of facebook with 100 million users which is set to touch one billion by March 2015.
The NDA government and a number of its ministers have already taken to the social media platforms to reach out to people directly.