The Name Of The Contest: Google Maps Mapathon 2013
Duration Of The Contest:
"Began In 11th Feb 2013"
"Ended On 25th March 2013"
"Results Was Supposed TO Be Declared On 23rd July 2013"
Question No.1
What The Contestents Had To Do ?
Answer No.1
Let me give you all a brief view of how much effort & time each and every valid contestents like me gave to google maps to make google indian maps better.
We worked for 8-12 Hours "Daily" For Around 45 Days Continuously To Make Google Indian Maps Better & Yes We Did Make It A Lot Better After The Event.
Question No.2
How we made google indian maps better ?
Answer No.2
We corrected all the locations that were earlier than the mapathon event were listed in wrong locations on google maps and we added thousands of new and 100% corrected location info. about new places of our city which we thought will be helpful for everyone in future.
Question No.3
Did the contestents worked only for prize ?
Answer No.3
Yes, of course every one works for something or the other,
by participating in this event the contestents thought we are doing something good for the society.
Question No.4
So whats the catch, why "Evewin Christon Lakra" (Thats Me) is so angry with Google India ?
Answer No.4
There are many reasons not only for me but for each and every valid participants of this contest to be angry with Google India for what they did for the past 8 months or so.
Question No.5
Whats the role of SOI (Survey Of India) in Google India Mapathon 2013 Contest,
Why SOI had expressed concerns over the data added during the contest ?
Answer No.5
Look this is a completely bogus statement made by google india that SOI has expressed concerns over the data added during the contest.
Lets get my statement in simple terms.
When mapathon contest begin to end (in the month of march 2013) Some news channel blog post also reported that SOI are against this contest & the data added during this contest will be removed if it is found to be sensitive for our country.
So we all thought all our efforts (8-12 Hours "Daily" Adding Maps For Around 45 Days To Make Google Indian Maps Better) will be deleted by SOI because its against our country security.
The contestents began to treat "SOI as Bad Guys" & "Google India As Heros" Which later turned out to be Opposite :)
When the contest begin to end Google India Map-Maker Team Organised A Hangout To Inform Every Mapper How Their Contribution Helped.
This is the link of that hangout video.
Hangout on Air with the Map Maker Team
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZSK1MXmOf0
I also watched that hangout event LIVE.
That hangout event were carried out by these people of Google India Map-Maker Team:
1.
Prasanna Natarajan
(Program Manager)
2.
Jayanth Mysore
(Product Manager)
Google+ Profile Link
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104857692938246871492/posts
Google Map Maker Link
http://www.google.co.in/mapmaker?gw=66&uid=202536341801030652405
3.
Satyan Coorg
(Eng. Manager)
4.
Pavithra Kanakarajan
(Product Manager,Google Map Maker)
5.
Anand srinivasan
(Map Maker Engineer, Bangalore)
(Lead In The Map Maker Team)
(He's Been With The Map Maker For The Past 5 Years)
6.
Lalitesh Katragadda
(Country Head India Product,Google)
7.
Nadeem Ahmed
(Map Maker Operations Lead,Hyderabad)
Note:
According to me it would have been very helpful for everyone if they conducted this hangout event in the begining of this contest not when the contest was in the very last stage.
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After the contest ended (25th March 2013) the contestents felt relief & thought they did something good though it was not easy to sit in fornt of your computer and map for so many days like we did but sitll we all felt we did it.
Later we thought SOI has concerns with google india they will solve it before the result announcement date (23rd July 2013)
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Finally After 4 Months (approx 120 Days) The 23rd July 2013 Arrived:
The Participants thought today is a very big day for them coz they may get rewarded for their efforts,we thought Google India will announce the results on Google India mapathon page.
So What Really Happened ?
Google India mapathon page showed no update on 23rd July 2013.
the contestents began to panic & they headed for the facebook page of
"Google Mapathon 2013"
https://www.facebook.com/Mapathon2013?ref=br_tf
Everyone started to ask question at what time we'll get to see our results ?
We didn't get any positive answers from "Google Mapathon 2013"
You know Why ?
Because later we found out that this is not the official facebook page of "Google Mapathon 2013" contest. :)
(Google Still India Don't Have Any Official Facebook Page For Google Mapathon 2013 Contest.)
But contestents began to share their views on that unofficial page of Google Mapathon contest only,so that everyone will be updated with the latest news about the contest.
Somebody said the Google maintain timezone of USA & because of this the result will be displayed on 24th of july 2013 not on 23rd july 2013.
we all thought its ok then, we already waited so long,
it won't harm us if we have to wait for another one day.
24th july 2013 arrived, again we thought today is the day.
But........
Instead of announcing the results of the Google India Mapathon 2013 Contest what the contestents witnessed was extreamely shocking:
On 24th july 2013 Google Posted this on the result announcement page.
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As you may know, towards the end of the Mapathon, the Survey Of India (SOI) had expressed concerns over the data added during the contest. Specifically, the SOI wanted to review the data that was added during the Mapathon to make sure that it is safe to publish without revealing information that it considers sensitive. Towards this end, we had provided them the data that was added during the Mapathon, but have not yet heard back.
Since we can move forward only after receiving their approval, we are unfortunately not in a position to announce the results of the Mapathon yet, as originally planned. When we do hear back from the SOI, we will announce the results of the contest.
We feel your disappointment. Indeed, we were hoping that we would be in a position to announce our winners today, which is the reason we did not pro-actively put out any notification about a potential delay. We will continue to persistently follow up with SOI and hope to announce the results at the earliest.
Sincerely,
The Mapathon 2013 Team
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Google India Blammed SOI for the results and made us believe that SOI is not allowing them to post the results.
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Many days went by but the official Google India Mapathon 2013 page displayed the same notice.
Now the contestents like me began to post our concerns about why we are treated like this by the so called Search Giant.
What we've done wrong that we are getting punishment.
I found out the Google Map Forum where people share their view or ask questions about Google Map & I thought they have the answers to our questions, but I was completely wrong.
Later I found out that the people designated on that forum is just the users like everyone who help others but they don't have any official Link with Google so they don't know what is Google India mapathon 2013 contest is or who conducted this event.
what they do is to just calm you so that you don't speak truth but follow the orders of Google regardless of what Google did to the participants.
Many times I got so frustrated with the replies I got from that forum that I had to write angry statements to them & for that I take responsibility but why they defending google I still don't know they are defending a wrong company who is doing wrong work in the name of progress and society development.
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Then later I found out the phone no. of SOI and called them personally to find why they are stopping google to post the winners name.
I was informed by SOI to call their technical department who is dealing with this matter they provided me the phone no. of the technical head of SOI people who was familier with this kind of matter.
I called them & I was shocked for the 2nd time that the technical department people told me that SOI has nothing to do with the results of google india mapathon 2013 contest, They're just doing their duty by checking the data of maps so that No sensitive data will be added which will be harmfull for the country but they were never against the results and informed me that they have also read the notice posted by google on the mapathon site in which they said SOI is responsible for the delay which is not true and their verification of data will be complete within 10-15 days.
I was very happy to talk to SOI technical department people and on google map forum I informed everyone about this good news but the people who run that forum said I don't have any proof that I spoke with the correct person who know the reason for the delay So stop blamming Google.
Later I Spoke with the SOI technical department people 2nd time & this time I managed to record a small phone audio clip that states that SOI is not responsible for the delay results of Google Indian Mapathon 2013 Contest.
Evewin Lakra 2nd Time Talk With The Technical Department Of SOI (Survey Of India) Audio/Video Link
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Date: 9th September 2013
Time: 11.19 A.M.
Subject: Why SOI Is Stopping Google To Post The Result Of Google India Mapathon 2013 Contest.
Hello Everybody Today I Again Talked With The Technical Department Of SOI And Asked Them Why SOI Is Stopping Google To Post The Result Of Google India Mapathon 2013 Contest.
Today Also Again I Got The Same Reply From Them.
"SOI Has Not Stopped Google To Post The Result Of Mapathon Contest"
To Give A Proof That I'm Not Lying:
Here The Audio Clip:
(Evewin Lakra 2nd Time Talk With The Technical Department Of SOI Audio)
So Now Whats Your Views About Google India Map Team Who Conducted This Mapathon Contest ?
"Hope Atleast One Member From Google India Team Will Hear What The SOI
(Survey Of India) Said About The Result"
As The Contest Ended Many Months Back And The Participarts Are Really Feeling Sad About The Attitude Which Google India Is Showing To The Hard Working Contestents.
"When You Ask Question About The Result In Google Map Forums"
People Working For Google Starts To Blame SOI For The Delay In Result And Tell Its Participants To Contact SOI Youself And When You Say You Talked With SOI And They Don't Have Anything To Do With The Results They Won't Reply.
And To Take The Matter Far More Interesting,All The Data Which The Hard Working Participants Added During The Period Of Google Indian Mapathon 2013 Contest Is Live And Google + People Are Already Benefited With Our Efforts & In Reply This Is What Google Has To Offer To The Participants Who Corrected And Made Google Indian Maps Far Far Better Than It Was Before The Mapathon Contest.
"Finally I Conculde By Saing A Small Note To Google Indian Team Who Actually Conducted This Contest"
"Please Delete All The Data Which We Participants Added To "Google Maps" During The Contest And Never Conduct Such Type Of Fake Contest.
"We Participants Had Enough Of The Lame Excuses Which Google People Give"
& Now We Know That We'll Never Get The Rewards Which Was Promissed By Google But Just For The Consolation prize I Request Google India To Remove Each And Every Bit Of Data Collected During Google India Mapathon 2013 Contest.
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Again I posted my video link to the google map forum & again they didn't understood what I meant so I had to translate it in english and I told them what I spoke with them and then also they defended google india.
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Many days & months again passed and all the people lost fait in google but I do not want to lose this battle like this so many times I posted about this on my blog & many time I got support from people who is also fed up with the dirty tricks played by google India.
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After a long sleep the admin of the Google India Mapathon 2013 may have woke up we participants got 1 E-mail from Google India Map-Maker Team
On 13th September 2013
Mapathon 2013 - Request Information from potential winners
All The Valid Winners Got A Official Mail From Google India Mapathon Team That We Have To Submit Our Info. ASAP.
Please submit the form before 11:00PM (IST), 22 September, 2013 - after which it will be closed.
We will get in touch with you again if required.
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Though it was just a mail but for us it was a sign of relief and we got happy and we did sent out our detalis to google ASAP thinking that on 23rd September 2013 Google Will announce the result.
You Know What Google India Did ?
Without informing any of the contestents.
When The Time Came To Display The Results Google India Map-Maker Team Extended The Date For Filling Up The Details From 22 September 2013 To 29th September 2013
WT?
This is what I wrote on my blog that time:
When The Time Came To Display The Results You Guys (Google India) Again Changed The Winners Announcement Date.
This Is So Cheap For A Company Like Google.
So On 29th September 2013 They Can Again Update The Date & Write It'll Be Open Till 29th September 2014.
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I was partially right:
Google India Did Extended the date for the 3rd time for accepting the details of potential winners Form 29th September 2013 To 9th October 2013.
After 9th October 2013 Again The form is now closed by Google India But you never know they can again re-open the form without informing any contestents to fill the details for the potential winners which they don't want to give any prize.
People Who Organised This Event Should Show Up Their Faces In Public So That The Whole World Can See Your Contribution Towards The Society.
& For All The The People Who Thinks "Evewin Christon Lakra" Is A Cheat Who Participated In This Contest Just To Win Prize Can See The Video That I Made About My Experience About Google India Mapathon 2013 Contest As Soon As The Contest Ended.
(That Time I Had Faith In This Brand) & I was really very happy to be a part of that event.
If you don't belive me then please watch my little bit long video.
Note:The Date of the video,when it was uploaded by me.
In the end I only want to say Thanks to google India For checking out Our Patience. I know we performed well if you really don't want to give us any prizes then also just for the sake of humanity kindly delete all the data added during the Google India Mapathon 2013 Event And Show us all how big your company is by adding & correcting indian maps by yourself. If you do this No participants will say anything against you people & that I can gaurantee but let me know you people have the courage to delete each and every bit of chunk added during the mapathon event. Deal Or No Deal. The Final Choice Is Yours.
Happy Mapping:
From:
Evewin Christon Lakra.
(Jamshedpur)
(Jharkhand)
(India)
