My Democratic Society: myDemSoc
Posted on August 12th, 2009 by admin in Democracy, Education, Training, myDemSoc
LokManTra’s myDemSoc [ my democratic society ] project of Ajay Goyal is inspired by the mysociety initiative of Tom Steinberg in the United Kingdom. MyDemSoc is a participatory network for citizens to hold their representatives and government accountable. The early stage model and code are designed based on opensource code provided by mysociety.
myDemSoc is rooted in the belief that citizen participation in governance in a democratic process is the key to solving problems of society. Citizens do so by regularly petitioning the government individually and as a community on local issues that deserve attention and action from politicians and administrators. LokMantra is founded on the principal that participation of citizens in their community affairs through petition, suggestion and constructive engagement shall make Indian democracy stronger and political leaders more engaged and accountable.This will in turn bring an overall improvement in governance through raised awareness, constructive communication and problem solving approach.Stronger democracy is precisely such engagement of citizenry in affairs of state for improvement of our common lot.
myDemSoc is a unique experiement with a pilot project launched in Chandigarh in fall 2009. myDemSoc uses mobile phones, SMS text, mobile phone retailers, phone and internet kiosks as well as home internet as the contact and interaction points for ordinary citizens for engagement with government and representatives. Uniqueness of myDemSoc lies in the fact that even the illiterate and poor can take their voice public and make their opinions heard through this network. Through a scheme of incentives for the front line volunteers, merchants and students, myDemSoc shall engage millions whose voice is never heard and give them a strong voice resonant in corridoors of power. This voice, once raised through mydemSoc and LokMantra shall become a matter of record, never to be erased or ignored again. Media, civil society and alert citizens can hold the political class accountable once citizenry starts participating in its own governance through myDemSoc.
If you would like to volunteer or support myDemSoc, please write to myDemSoc@lokmantra.in
myDemSoc is rooted in the belief that citizen participation in governance in a democratic process is the key to solving problems of society. Citizens do so by regularly petitioning the government individually and as a community on local issues that deserve attention and action from politicians and administrators. LokMantra is founded on the principal that participation of citizens in their community affairs through petition, suggestion and constructive engagement shall make Indian democracy stronger and political leaders more engaged and accountable.This will in turn bring an overall improvement in governance through raised awareness, constructive communication and problem solving approach.Stronger democracy is precisely such engagement of citizenry in affairs of state for improvement of our common lot.
myDemSoc is a unique experiement with a pilot project launched in Chandigarh in fall 2009. myDemSoc uses mobile phones, SMS text, mobile phone retailers, phone and internet kiosks as well as home internet as the contact and interaction points for ordinary citizens for engagement with government and representatives. Uniqueness of myDemSoc lies in the fact that even the illiterate and poor can take their voice public and make their opinions heard through this network. Through a scheme of incentives for the front line volunteers, merchants and students, myDemSoc shall engage millions whose voice is never heard and give them a strong voice resonant in corridoors of power. This voice, once raised through mydemSoc and LokMantra shall become a matter of record, never to be erased or ignored again. Media, civil society and alert citizens can hold the political class accountable once citizenry starts participating in its own governance through myDemSoc.
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