Is Home Ministry planning a Twitter helpline inspired by Sushma Swaraj and Suresh Prabhu’s A grade social media game?

The idea to have a Twitter account for the Home Ministry was pitched at a recent meeting held with representatives of paramilitary forces

By: News Desk |
May 2, 2017 9:56 am

Since 2014 when Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister, various departments of his government have worked towards being more social media friendly. The ministers and government departments have been active on microblogging site Twitter to reach out to those in need and initiate a swift action. Be it Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj or Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, they have often gone out of the way to act on complaints addressed to them on social media.

Feeling inspired by the response of the swift action of fellow ministers and ministries, it seems like the Home Ministry is also planning to set up a Twitter handle where people can post their grievances. A report in the Indian Express said that the idea was pitched at a recent meeting held with representatives of paramilitary forces.

However, the officials are said to have opined that the idea will not work for them as the nature of complaints that Sushma Swaraj gets or which Suresh Prabhu gets are very different from the one that Home Ministry receives. As they need to have a full-fledged probe, answers cannot always be given immediately on Twitter.

The adulation for Sushma Swaraj on Twitter is such that even a US daily had showered praises on her for her proactive role on social media, calling her ‘Supermom of the State’. From uniting couples on their honeymoon to solving crisis in Jeddah, the External Affairs Minister has become a messiah for many on Twitter.

Even kids want to be like her!

@SushmaSwaraj my daughter # Fancy dress competition # national leader # SUSHMA SWARAJ…… pic.twitter.com/g8Xjxx4R19

— Rajesh Sharma (@Raj19Sharma) August 12, 2016

The Indian Railway Ministry and Minister Suresh Prabhu have also on several occasions reached out to people stuck with various problems. From helping students stuck with no food to helping a father get milk for his 5-year old son, the minister has been proactive with helping those in need.

@ANarnoli @RailMinIndia @sureshpprabhu @drmmgs @GM_NRly school children served meal and water at Bsb. pic.twitter.com/uSeeutEpou

— Satish Kumar (@drmlko25) December 7, 2015

We hope more ministries and ministers get within the reach of people!