TWEETING IN CHANGE

In Twitter, Chief Minister Hemant Soren finds a handy tool for governance—and self-promotion

- Amitabh Srivastava  

Everyone, irrespective of caste and community, is entitled to quality education. The family’s financial constraints cannot be allowed to become an impediment. Deputy commissioner, Gumla, take cognisance of the report, do the needful and update.”

This was Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren’s tweet on February 14, with which he tagged a newspaper report on how Amisha, a state-level school topper, was struggling to pursue her education because of financial hardships. The post had an electrifying effect. Within three days, Gumla deputy commissioner Shashi Ranjan met Amisha’s parents and assured them of help. “We are making all arrangements so that Amisha, who is studying in Ranchi, faces no hindrance in her studies,” Ranjan told India today.