Media can be used for entertainment but it can also be used for good social causes. Internet is one such medium that trancends beyond just entertaining and moves in influencing, participating and also doing some social good to the society.
The UN (United Nations) has identified this potential of the web and has roped in Google and Cisco to create a web application that will help UN tracks the global progess statistically on issues like poverty, illiteracy, hunger, disease and other social ills. The UN has set a target of 2015 in combating these social ills and has termed it the Millennium Development Goals.
The web application which will track the progess on these social ills will serve as an advocacy platform with current data in areas such as public health, education and women’s empowerment. Its interesting to see UN using web applications to track progress on such social problems that are global in nature.
It makes me wonder when the Indian government would look at using technology especially the web for solving such issues in India. Even corporates like HSBC are taking the social messaging route even though its for a brand positioning exercise. Its high time that the indian government also looks at ways of using the web to create social conciousness among the metros about the problems ofvillages in India.
