For the first time ever, a digital version for the Government of India calendar was launched today in the form of a mobile phone app.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley, who released the calendar for 2015, said two of government’s key programmes had converged in the initiative to launch the app version.
“The convergence of two mainstream programmes of the government is reflected in this calendar. First is a social programme – Swachh Bharat and that is why it is reflected in the visuals of this calendar….The second programme is Digital India which is a developmental programme.
“And the convergence is there, as the same calendar will be available in a digital form as well,” he said.
Jaitley, who is also the Finance Minister said that no one can defy technology and it should be used for the benefit of people and congratulated Department of Audio Visual Publicity (DAVP) for having brought out mobile app.
Apart from having the information that the conventional calendar has, the mobile phone app would also have links that would keep users aware of latest government initiatives including that of PIB website and PMO tweets and I&B Ministry’s youtube channel, officials said.
Along with the visual of him wielding a broom, the calendar for the month of January also carries a quote from the Prime Minister.
“Wherever we see filth or see someone throwing garbage why don’t we feel like picking that up? I know this will not be accomplished only by publicity campaign. Old habits take time to change. It’s a difficult task. But we have time till 2019 when we shall be observing the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,” the quote says.
For the month of February, the government calendar focuses on initiatives to build toilets in schools while it projects the plan to rejuvenate rivers on the lines of Sabarmati model in its visual for the month of March.
For March, the calendar has the theme ‘Clean Hospitals: A Healthy India’ and highlights the cleanliness drive launched in hospitals under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
May projects the efforts to make and keep the Railways clean while the visuals and text and picture for June in the calendar refers to the Ganga Conservation Mission.
The calendar for the month of July seeks to give a message ‘Swachh Bharat Mission : A people’s movement’ while August emphasises that ‘Clean Villages reflect Clean India.
Solar Power for September, Wind Power for October, Himalayas: Nerve centre of Country’s climate for November and Afforestation for December are the other subjects, highlighted in the official Calendar.