"What is wrong with your facebook?" was the first thing my long-lost friend asked  when we met recently. To match her level of amusement, I asked with mock  concern, "What is wrong with my facebook?" In reply, she consumed much of our conversation time over coffee. "You have the Delhi traffic police, the Mumbai traffic police, Jammu & Kashmir traffic police and a few days ago I even saw Tihar Jail on your page!" she exclaimed. 

I decided to put an end to her dreadful confusion and shock. So I began by correcting her. It’s not Jammu & Kashmir traffic police, it’s Jammu & Kashmir police, I told her. The traffic police is yet to join in. "But why do you have traffic police updates on your homepage? Or, for that matter, why have them at all?" she persisted.

So I told her. It’s called Gov 2.0 and it is all about government departments utilising the social media such as facebook, twitter etc to interact with citizens. Simple.

"And why would they do so?" came the next logical question. "That’s the point," I explained patiently, "You see, the reason is to connect with people like you. To reach to the younger audience, build relations and increase transparency."

I could see her softening up. "But where is all this going to lead to?" she asked feebly. "Better governance, naturally," I said, "It is leading to a small but certain amount of change already. The MCD is on facebook as well and people post pictures of garbage dumps in their areas and the authority looks into it in no time and sees to it that the job gets done." 

Even as I answered her with conviction, I do realise that the critical issue is whether this drive can be sustained and expanded. That will be the real test. But well begun is half done, isn't it?