Chief Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, expressed his wish to create a ‘Gujarat Bank of Wisdom’ while addressing IAS officers on the concluding day of Chintan Shibir. Surprisingly, no one had a feeling of déjà vu. The same project had been launched nearly three years ago by the Modi government and even a portal exists with suggestions posted there.

“We have resolved to take Gujarat to greater heights of development through qualitative changes. For this, we will have to invite new ideas from across the globe, and technology and talent will have to be combined. A Bank of Wisdom will provide strength to this churning,” Modi said.

He welcomed the suggestions made by babus at the Chintan Shibir on various subjects, and exhorted them to propagate the culture of ‘Bank of Wisdom’ as a popular movement by using Information Technology and communication.

Secretary (Science and Technology) Raj Kumar told Newsline that the Gujarat Bank of Wisdom website is already registered. “But, I can’t throw more light on this, as I have not seen it,” he said.

None of the bureaucrats seemed to remind the CM that the concept had been introduced by his own government. Or perhaps they too, like the CM, had forgotten about it.

Sources, however, maintained that there was no need to create a separate website for the Gujarat Bank of Wisdom, especially when all key government departments have their own websites where people can post their suggestions and ideas. People can send in their suggestions even to the CM's official website,” said sources.

A custom-made website on the Gujarat Bank of Wisdom can be found at www.gujaratbankofwisdom.com.

The website also explains how people should post their suggestions/ideas, and how the same can be implemented by a team of experts. It says “the Bank is aimed at collecting, crystallising and conceptualising ideas and suggestions to bring them to the level of implementation”.