The Most Important thing I've done as a Local Guide

Hello Local Guides,

My name is Shaunak Das and I am from Serampore, West Bengal, India.

I joined Local guides program since its beginning in 2015. The year when I introduced myself in the field of my profession after completing graduation in medical studies for almost six years. At the same timeI felt something special in Local guides program and I started contributing to Google maps. :grinning:

So what was that special thing about?

I remember it was a Sunday morning in November 2015, I was on Holiday leave due to mandatory study break after final examination. I was thinking of some ways in which a patient can easily find where nearest Doctor’s office is located with the help of Google maps. So the person just needs an Android/apple smart phone, or a desktop computer with internet access.

Then the person needs to check whether doctor’s details in available on maps or not. Even I also began to notice that many of the hospitals and clinics that I visited for were not listed on Google Maps, or that their listings contained the wrong contact information. In Calcutta, the phone number is more important than a website address. People look for a phone number.

I immediately started editing those information on Google maps using directory of Hospitals and Clinics I had at home. I also visited some Hospitals and took some 360 photos and uploaded on maps.

Screenshot of my application video for Connect Live 2020

Beside mapping of medical facilities of my city I love to take photos of city’s tourist attraction and upload them to Google maps. A few examples of such attractions are replicas of ‘Seven Wonders of the world’ at Eco park. floating market - The country’s first and Third in Asia - where hundreds of visitors come everyday. Currently my photo views number has crossed 28 million.

My passion is travelling to new places and I love to take photos wherever I go. There are many tourist spots in Kolkata like Alipore zoo, Eden Gardens (I love watching Cricket), Victoria Memorial, Millennium Park, Prinsep Ghat, Floating market, Seven Wonders etc, and I love to take photos of those. Beside this, I added/corrected many local listings such as petrol station, coffee soaps, ATM, restaurants, etc.

Local Guides program is extremely important to me. It allows me to meet people with same interest. It was my privilege to attend previous two summits (LGSummit16 & LGSummit17) in California. I met Local guides from different countries and Googlers. A few summit attendees from neighbouring counties visited my hometown after summit and I glad to met them. I met summit attendees Ilankovan from Sri Lanka, Julien of Singapore and Bangladesh Local guide Mahabub at my hometown. We had such a great time together.

I love contributing 360 photos to Google maps including hospitals and medical facilities. So that people can virtually experience in hospital which may reduce their anxiety in emergency. Also Trusted photographer badge motivates me to take more 360 photos on maps.

It was awesome to see Google Local Guides has featured me on their “Local Guides Heroes’ series about healthcare campaign video in India. I am sure many people will benefit from this campaign named “Lets join the movement to map India’s Hospitals.”

Video Credit: Google Local Guides

India is not a disability friendly country. Be it roads, trains or buses, offices - people are not very inclusive when it comes to people with disabilities. So when I see any accessibility features available in an area I quickly update those info in Google maps and tell others to do so. Whenever I find places shown on maps are not updated, I immediately corrected those.

P.S. Right now India is at critical stage in Corona virus outbreak. My home city experiencing more Corona cases everyday. So for easiness of access for Corona test I have created a List today on Google maps “Corona Fever Test Centers in Kolkata.”

20 Likes

Namaskar…

** @DrShaunak **

Thankyou for your experience as local guide, It’s look great, I am sure your video also impressive, but I will watch it tomorrow…

1 Like

Thank you for sharing your ideas

Congratulations! @DrShaunak

Hi, I hope you are in good healthy condition Doc @DrShaunak .

Thank you for your fully insighted description about your role in adding places of hospitals and medical facilities.

Actually your video as a Local Hero inspiring me to be a good Local Guides.

I think you are so busy now handling this Covi-19 pandemic patients.

Keep calm, stay healthy and always be happy.

2 Likes

In Belgium I am supporting the local small businesses by making pictures of their windows as soon they make a new one. And I post it on googlemaps and also on instagram. For the moment only in Schilde Belgium and I do it on my bike!