It will help professionals to do volunteer work in their free time.

Professionals keen on doing volunteer work in their free time will be provided a platform by the government through an app, #Self4Society, developed by MyGov. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the app at a townhall-style event here on October 24.

Sources who helped develop the app say it was the result of the conversations between Mr. Modi and several corporate leaders who had said their employees wanted to do volunteer work but did not have any guidance.

“A lot of companies run volunteering initiatives. This platform will help to create better synergies among so many initiatives and lead to a much better outcome of the efforts of professionals. Companies have observed that a spirit of service and volunteering improves employee satisfaction and reduces employee attrition. This app comes after discussions with companies from the information technology sector on these lines,” a source said.

“The app will have incentives, gamification and intra- and inter-company competitions, and social networking. At first, this will be aimed at IT companies, with more joining in when it takes off,” said a source.

The volunteer time for the government’s flagship programmes such as Swachh Bharat is expected to increase.

The townhall-style inauguration will be attended by 2,000 in the city, and thousands more will join from other cities through video link.