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Non-Functioning of SNEHER PARAS App

On 29th April, 2020, Right to Food and Work Campaign, West Bengal has expressed the concerns to the Principal Secretary, Department of Disaster Management and Civil Defence, Govt. of West Bengal regarding the SNEHER PARAS application launched by the state government for providing a relief scheme to migrant workers of West Bengal who are stranded at different parts of the country (outside the state) since 24.03.2020 due to lockdown induced by Corona Virus (COVID 19) pandemic.
Though the initiative is highly appreciated and we have been assisting hundreds of such workers in knowing and filling in this form. However, we are forced to bring the issue of non- functioning of SNEHER PARAS application to urgent attention of the Principal Secretary, Department of Disaster Management and Civil Defence, Govt. of West Bengal, for some important observations and suggestions that ought to be taken in to consideration.
The letter sent to the Principal Secretary, Department of Disaster Management and Civil Defence, Govt. of West Bengal, is as follows:

To                                                                                                            Date: 29.04.2020
Shri. Dushyant Nariala,
Principal Secretary,
Department of Disaster Management and Civil Defence, Government of West Bengal
Nabanna, Howrah
Dear Sir,
Right to Food and Work Campaign, West Bengal is an integral part of a national movement working for the rights of the marginalised sections of our population, mainly on issues concerning nutrition and wage based employment.
This is with respect to the Sneher Paras application launched by the Government of West Bengal for providing a relief scheme to migrant workers of West Bengal who are stuck outside the state due to the lock-down induced by corona virus pandemic. The initiative is highly appreciated and we have been assisting hundreds of such workers in knowing and filling in this form. However, we are forced to bring to your urgent attention some important observations and suggestions that ought to be taken into consideration:
1.  Since the past two days, workers' are facing problems in filling the said application at the very first step of the OTP verification process. They are getting stuck and a message asking to check internet connection is appearing on the screen though the phone has internet connection. A screenshot of the same is attached for your reference.
Kindly look into this matter immediately since thousands more are waiting all over the country to fill and avail this minimum support.
2.  In relation to the above mentioned grievance and also the fact that many workers are still stranded in remote places where they are not having internet connection, smart phones, or even information that such an initiative exists; we sincerely request you to extend the deadline for filling the details beyond 3rd May for minimum a week more. Other states such as Jharkhand have also extended their deadline.
3.  We request you to set-up some basic IT helpline/cell in place to deal with the huge numbers of applications that will start coming in and also queries and problems regarding the same. Hence some sort of government helpline number dedicated solely for this purpose should be advertised in the application itself. From our experience, we know that many are facing problems when they fill and a technical assistance number should be circulated more widely. This same IT cell can help track online applications as well and hence make the entire process more transparent and foolproof.
We sincerely request you to take cognisance of the humble few demands made above, on behalf of the thousands of vulnerable workers' and their families.
We will highly appreciate a note of acknowledgement with a commitment towards meeting these necessary demands as well.

Thanking you, in anticipation of a favourable reply from your end.

Yours Sincerely,
Anuradha Talwar, Fr. Jothi, S.J, Pawan Baxla & Tapojay Mukherjee 
(On behalf of Right to Food and Work Campaign, West Bengal)

(Click here to preview the letter)

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