Congratulate for the initiatives. I wish this project should extend in all
indian languages.
But I request the discussions about the project to be outside wikimedia
groups so that it could not confuse people to think it is supported by
wikimedia. (though you have stated in the website it is not)
On Sat, May 21, 2011 at 10:35 PM, Sohel Bohra <sohelbohra(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> [[This is a lengthy mail and is cross-posted on all mailing lists. Kindly
> bear]]
>
> Dear Wikimedians,
>
> We interact with the government on multiple occasions. The problems are all
> too familiar - complex systems, official apathy, corruption - just to name a
> few.
>
> Some trivia and stats to qualify these claims:
>
> * Entrepreneurs identified increasing the speed and ease of issuing
> permits; lowering taxes; and reducing the time it takes to start a business
> as key issues. (Note - All issues relate to government interactions; Source
> - Legatum Institute)
> * In Mumbai, there are 37 procedural hoops to jump through to gain approval
> to build a warehouse. (Source : World Bank)
> * On the Corruption Perception Index (2010), India ranks 87th of 178
> countries
> * Indians are highest ranked in volume of search for terms such as
> government rules, passport and registration (Source - Google Trends)
>
> Here's where WikifyIndia - a wiki of government procedures - kicks in.
> If Wikipedia is the Thinkers Encyclopedia, WikifyIndia is the Doer's
> Encyclopedia
>
> We (the founders) are ardent believers of the Wikipedia model and want to
> apply it to government procedures. Our belief is that ordinary citizens
> suffer for two reasons – the process is complex and accurate information is
> unavailable. WikifyIndia addresses the latter. Agents distort information to
> suit themselves. Officials are rarely friendly. The best solution has always
> been to ask someone who has ‘been through the grind’. WikifyIndia does it on
> a national level.
>
> The scope of the Project is wide ranging. From getting into the armed
> forces to filing a Right To Information request, from complaining about a
> broken traffic signal to opening a restaurant, from changing your name to
> adopting a child, from applying for euthanasia to marrying in court, from
> getting a gun permit to filing your taxes, from getting a permit to climb
> peaks to getting a gas connection, it will all be there.
>
> www.wikifyindia.com
>
> Every article is expected to have a short intro, requirements/eligibility,
> procedure, list of documents, timings, fees, application form, sample
> certificate among other details. Unlike Wikipedia, WikifyIndia is also a
> forum. There is merit in aggregating experiences (for ex. visa experiences
> can be quite varied).
>
> Current approaches on the internet are inadequate. Information is retrieved
> from Q&A forums, blog posts, agent or government sites. It is incomplete and
> outdated. Wikipedia has proved that a bottom approach is far more suitable
> in some areas than any top down approach (where a group is formally trying
> to organise information). Even if someone did a good job, they wouldn't be
> able to distribute it for free.
>
> WikifyIndia complements Wikipedia. The article on Civil Marriage in
> Wikipedia is written differently from the same article on WikifyIndia.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_marriage
> http://www.wikifyindia.com/wiki/Civil_Marriage
>
> When WikifyIndia has adequate accurate content, it will reduce what
> economists call 'transaction costs'. Any tool to improve productivity of
> citizens, entrepreneurs and organisations will be directly contributing to
> the Indian economy. To the best of our knowledge, there is no other site
> with a similar approach in any other country. We urge you to jump in and
> make a difference.
>
> WikifyIndia is a non-profit initiative free of advertising and is being run
> by a small fund created by the Founders.
>
> We (the founders) have cribbed about a @#$% and rotten system for far too
> long. WikifyIndia is our way of doing something about it. We ask for your
> complete support in adding content, sharing experiences, creating templates
> and technical support. The goal is for every government procedure to be
> available in every Indian language with complete and accurate guidelines. If
> a farmer's wife in Manipur wants to get employed under Rural Employment
> Guarantee Scheme, she should have all the information and forms on the site
> in her language.
>
> Thank you for your time and patience,
>
> Anish and Sohel [User:Sbohra]
>
> _______________________________________________
> Wikimedia-in-chn mailing list
> Wikimedia-in-chn(a)lists.wikimedia.org
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-in-chn
>
>
**Cross posted on various Indian Mailing Lists**
As per Community consensus, the annual national conference of Wikipedians in India will be titled WikiConference India.
We now need a special Logo for the event.
This logo will be used not only this year, but annually for the national conference. Community members are requested to come up with designs and post them on the talk page of the event on meta latest by 1PM, Monday 27 June 2011. Thereafter we will have a 48 hour window for the other community members to vote for the design they like.
**Kindly note, we expect the designers to assign unconditionally all rights to the logo design to Wikimedia Chapter (India) under whose jurisdiction this conference comes without any remuneration or other considerations. You will be recognised as the designer of the logo.**
Weblink for the Event Talk Page on Meta: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:WikiConference_India_2011#Logo
Looking forward to seeing some brilliant designs.
Kind Regards,
User:AroundTheGlobe
cross-posting pan India (apologies if you have got this through other mailing lists.)
Hisham Mundol
Wikimedia India Programs
skype : hisham.wikimedia
gtalk : hmundol(a)wikimedia.org
twitter : @mundol
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Hisham Mundol <hmundol(a)wikimedia.org>
> Date: June 21, 2011 5:00:50 PM GMT+05:30
> To: India Mailing list for Wikimedians in Pune <wikimedia-in-pun(a)lists.wikimedia.org>, Wikimedia India Community list <wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
> Cc: Wikipedia Ambassadors India <wikipedia-ambassadors-india(a)googlegroups.com>
> Subject: Update on Wikipedia India Education Program: Report & Project Page
>
> Hi Folks
>
> Here's a report on the Wikipedia India Education Program: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_-_India_Programs/India_…
>
> In (very) short summary, it's been an action packed 4-5 weeks, the team has done a huge amount of groundwork - and there appears to be significant potential. Do go through the report for further details.
>
> ...I've tried to make the report as interesting to read as possible - and focus on the learnings and implications for a national roll-out (instead of making it a random list summarising various activities.)
>
> Do let me have your views on the mailing lists or the Talk Page.
>
> (A project page has also been set up at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pune but I hasten to add that it is in early stages of construction. ...but do keep visiting it. Finger crossed, it's going to get very busy, very soon!)
>
> I'd like to thank everyone from the community who have helped out so amazingly!
>
> Best
>
> Hisham Mundol
>
> Wikimedia India Programs
> skype : hisham.wikimedia
> gtalk : hmundol(a)wikimedia.org
> twitter : @mundol
>
The next Kolkata Wikipedia Meetup & Workshop is planned for Saturday 11 June
2011, from 1500 to 1830 hrs at
*Patanjali Chkitsalaya Building*
77, Satish Mukherjee Road,
Calcutaa 700026
India
Landmarks -
*Rashbihari Avenue Crossing* ( *Kalighat Metro Station*)
- Behind Patanjali Chkitsalaya Building
- Beside Deshbandhu College for Girls
In this meetup we are concentrating our Bengali Wikipedia.
Please sign up here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/Kolkata/Kolkata5#Attendinghttp://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=150727971663456
This is a very interesting and important meet so be sure to be present to
push your ideas about what you would like to do!
With Warm Regards,
*Jayanta Nath*
Calcutta,West Bengal
<https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-in-wb>