Need to contact Dr Harsh Vardhan, a much loved leader in the capital, who is also the Union Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment?
On National Science Day, which was commemorated on Wednesday, the very accessible leader made himself more accessible, by launching the Dr Harsh Vardhan App after paying tributes to one of India's greatest scientists, Sir C.V. Raman.
The minister also threw open to the public an exhibition showcasing all the works being done by private players and start-ups in the areas centring on his ministry.
The Dr Harsh Vardhan App is intended, among other things, to promote his pet theme of 'green good deeds' and to engage with the public at large. His office had run a beta trial of the app, involving the public, and has incorporated much of the suggestions that came by way of feedback.
The exhibition, which comprises over 1,000 posters and products that have just been made or are in trial at present, has in fact been on for about two months now. The minister said it was decided to keep it open exclusively for NGOs, RWAs, BJP workers and government officials during the forenoon, and for schoolchildren in the afternoons, ahead of the Science Day, when it would be open to the public.
Incidentally, it is in the lawns of his official residence in the capital's Tees January Marg.
Vardhan said the exhibition both kindled the curiosity and satiated the inquisitiveness of children and was sure many of them would have gone back with a passion for science and technology. The exhibition showed how India was among the top 10 countries in the world in almost all areas of science.
While his office ran the media through all the details of the app, it became clear the star features were the green good deeds, something Vardhan has been championing, urging every Indian to do one good thing for the environment, and see how it contributes to climate change.
This, he said, would be doing one's bit towards 'green social responsibility'. To help people get going on this, the app has a list of 500 green good deeds for them to choose from. Each of them can help people launch a movement around them, said the minister, calling upon people to work towards this, so that “we leave for future generations, a world of the kind we had inherited.”
The beta version of the app was tested by 20,000 people over the last two months. It carries, as of now, 40,000 photographs and 16,000 videos. It allows people to track the minister on a daily basis through events, see the live transmission, reach out to him with their problems and seek appointments with him.
The minister said that he was inspired to launch an app around his activities and commitments, as well as the activities of the ministries he is in charge of by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who talks of digital India, and says the problems of the people can be solved through the phone.
And the beta version showed a 24-acre park in South Delhi cleaned up and restored to its old form, thanks to this access through the app.