Citizen engagement : Smart puja initiatives in new town Kolkata
Durga Puja or Durgotsav is an annual festival celebrated predominantly in West Bengal. It has often been termed as the “Carnival of the East” and celebrates the victory of Good over Evil. Apart from being a religious festival, it is also an occasion for reunion and rejuvenation, and a celebration of traditional culture and customs. It is the time of the year when Bengalis working in different part of the country and abroad come back home and travels from far and wide to reunite with their friends and family.
In addition to regular citizen engagement activities, New Kolkata Development Authority has leveraged this opportunity of re-union and festivity to launch the Smart City Puja Stall at all 58 Puja Pandals in New Town, Kolkata in order to engage with the citizens – including people who have come back to visit their family – in meaningful conversation and discussion on their aspirations for New Town Kolkata. Some of the initiatives being undertaken include:
- Smart City Puja Stalls have been set up at each puja pandal for the period 18-10-2015 to 22-10-2015 and NKDA officials have been visiting each stall and conducting talk shows creating awareness about New Town Smart City initiative and the importance of citizen interface in developing the Smart City Plan.
- NKDA has distributed Smart City New Town Kolkata Banners and information leaflets to be put up at the pandals.
- NKDA has trained volunteers from Housing Societies who will man the Smart City Puja Stalls and conduct the events during puja.
- Discussions with citizen leveraging FM Radio on the aspirations for New Town Kolkata Smart City.
- Durga Puja Committee Members from the Housing Societies are undertaking initiatives at the Puja Pandals, including:
- Essay Competition.
- Smart Diary/ Discussion Board: For recording key aspirations and viewpoints of citizen on Smart City New Town Kolkata
- Sit and Draw Competition- Organized by some puja committees: Image of your New Town Kolkata as you wish to see it over the next 10 years
- Questionnaire feedback: On the key aspirations/ self-assessment and probable solutions
- Wi-fi facility for providing comments on the MyGov/ NKDA website
- Feedback on the as is situation of New Town Kolkata and the key developments being sought
- Smart Solution: Inviting suggestions from citizen and stakeholders on ICT based solutions for New Town Kolkata.
Comments and feedback received from the initiatives during Durga Puja will be incorporated to develop the Area Based Solution and PAN City Solution for New Town Kolkata.
Two photos (taken on 19-10-2015) of Smart Citizen Koisks at Puja Pandals of 1A Block Cultural & Welfare Association & 1 CA CB CD Block Welfare Association.
