Nagarika · Ward 23 Pilot
Hosur · HCAP · A2Z × CMCA
Pilot Status
Where are we?
Current status Preparing
Proposal discussed with CMCA. Nothing agreed yet. We propose the whole of Ward 23. Phase 1 (6 weeks): about 150 people test the app, then the full ward launch. Phase 2 (6 more weeks) if Phase 1 is not yet close to the target.
The product is about 90% of the planned first version. Product demo to CMCA: date to be set. Reward options are written up and under discussion with Sudhakar.
Soft launch (tentative)15 Oct
Days to soft launch–
Phase 1 review2 Dec
Phase 2, if needed3 Dec – 13 Jan
Key milestones
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Product demo to CMCA | TBC | To schedule |
| Reward system agreed | TBC | Under discussion |
| Pilot agreement signed | 10 Oct | In discussion |
| Soft launch: ~150 testers | 15 Oct* | To confirm |
| Ward 23 launch | 29 Oct* | Planned |
| Phase 1 review: stop, or continue to Phase 2 | 2 Dec | Planned |
| Phase 2 ends, final review | 13 Jan · ~20 Jan | If needed |
* Tentative.
Action Items
What we need from CMCA
Open items 6 items
1
Decide the reward system
Options and open questions are on the incentives page (see Documents). Under discussion with Sudhakar; CMCA (Naren's team) to decide. · Before soft launch
2
Confirm the soft launch date
15 Oct is tentative. · As soon as possible
3
Review and sign the pilot agreement
Roles, costs, data ownership, photo storage. · 10 Oct
4
Nominate a pilot lead; Hosur field team at about half their time
The field team checks things on the ground, talks to residents and sits with testers. · 10 Oct
5
About 50 CMCA staff to test the app
Head office and field teams anywhere. Their ideas are welcome but optional for this pilot. · Before soft launch
6
Help find about 100 Ward 23 residents for one-on-one testing
Ordinary residents who have not been briefed, each with someone sitting with them. · Before soft launch
Coming soon
7
HCAP schools in Ward 23, and the list of HCAP-trained students who live in the ward
They are the first players. Every trained student from the ward should be reached. · 17 Oct
8
Launch plan of about 20 activities
Schools, the mayor, resident groups: buzz in the ward on launch day. Led by Sabiha. · Date to be set
9
Mayor's message to Ward 23 residents
Ward 23 is the mayor's ward. A message at launch tells every resident about the game. · Before ward launch
10
Class time and sharing in school and HCAP WhatsApp groups
For the ward launch. · 24 Oct
11
Recognition moments at school
Assembly, Children's Day (14 Nov), closing event. · 7 Nov
01 / Overview
Nagarika · Ward 23 pilot
A mobile game played on a map of Ward 23, Hosur. The ward's real garbage problems are the game's tasks. It runs inside CMCA's HCAP programme.
Why it matters
- Keeps families acting between clean-up drives, with small weekly tasks.
- Not a complaints app: players also act on what they report.
- Every action is recorded with a photo, a map location and a date.
- Part of HCAP, not an add-on. It can lower the programme's cost per town, which helps scaling and fundraising.
≥25%
of registered players still active in the last live week (19–25 Nov).
Active means at least one verified action that week. This is the pass / fail test. Diwali week (5–11 Nov) is recorded but not counted. If Phase 2 runs, it is measured again in its last week (7–13 Jan).
Timeline Proposed
Phase 1 · Testing · 2 weeks
Test with about 150 people
15 – 28 Oct · tentative
- About 100 Ward 23 residents, not briefed beforehand, each with someone beside them to watch and help.
- About 50 CMCA staff from head office and field teams, at the same time.
- Question: can people who have never seen it understand what to do?
Phase 1 · Ward launch · 4 weeks
Open to all of Ward 23
29 Oct – 25 Nov · tentative
- Starts with HCAP-trained students and their families, then all residents.
- Launched with the mayor, schools and resident groups.
- Target about 1,000 monthly active users from roughly 8–10k homes.
Phase 2 · 6 weeks · if needed
Continue in Ward 23
3 Dec – 13 Jan · decided on 2 Dec
- Used if Phase 1 is not yet close to the 25% target. Four live weeks is short for a game.
- Same ward, same players. Fixes and reward changes from Phase 1.
- Includes Christmas and the run-up to Pongal; expect a dip.
In scope
- All of Ward 23, Hosur (about 2 × 2 km)
- Reports only inside the ward. Outside it the app shows "unexplored area"
- Tamil and English
- Web link and Android app file (APK), shared on WhatsApp
- Complaints and escalation played out inside the game
Out of scope (for now)
- Other wards and towns, including Ramanagara: after Hosur succeeds
- Real complaints sent to HMC or the ward office
- Play Store listing
Team
A2Z
Madhav
Product and project manager · single point of contact for CMCA
A2Z
Ranga
Tech lead · builds and runs the app, report checks, data
A2Z
Srivathsa
Tech · build, fixes, support during live weeks
CMCA
Naren and team
Ground experience · decide the reward system
CMCA
Sabiha
Outreach, communication and testing plan · with Ramya and Priya
CMCA
Hosur field team
About half their time · ground checks, residents, testers, schools
CMCA
Pilot lead To be nominated
Leads on CMCA's side · signs off design and final decision
Schools
Teacher per school To be nominated
Introduces the app in class, shares links with parents
02 / The Game
What players do
A mix of four activity types, rotated across the four live weeks.
Segregation check-ins
Log wet / dry / plastic sorting at home. Builds the daily habit.
Report spots
Photograph garbage spots on the Ward 23 map: Blackspots (recurring dumps) and Flashpoints (one-off litter). Children always with an adult.
Awareness journeys
Mini-games on what happens to garbage after the bin. Finishing one unlocks tools like Voice (file a complaint) and Beacon (mark a spot).
Family tasks
Weekly challenges done as a family, such as a clean-street challenge in Diwali week.
How it works in the pilot
| Part | Pilot setup | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-in | Username and phone number, confirmed by a one-time SMS code. The player picks student or guardian. Students use their own number if they have one, otherwise a parent's. Whether a parent approves each student profile is still to be decided. | In build |
| Ward boundary | Reports are accepted only inside Ward 23. Outside it, the app shows "unexplored area". | In build |
| Checking reports | Automatic: the phone must be near the spot, and an AI model checks the photo (is it garbage, a repeat, safe to show?). Photos stay hidden until they pass. Flagged reports are held for a person to review (reviewer to be decided). | In build |
| Rewards | Proposed: leaderboards by ward, area and school, and recognition at school. Point values, prizes and other rewards are open; see the incentives page in Documents. | Under discussion |
| Map | Map served from our own server. Ola Maps built in as a backup but switched off. Google Maps dropped. | Decided 19 Sep |
| Login SMS | Indian SMS provider (MSG91 or Gupshup). Needs the sender name registered with TRAI first (DLT). | Decided 11 Aug |
| Languages | Tamil and English, including AI-written spot descriptions. | Tamil in progress |
| Delivery | Web link (save to home screen) and Android APK, shared through CMCA, school and HCAP WhatsApp groups. | Decided |
03 / Execution
Execution plan
14 milestones. Prepare now, test from 15 Oct, open to the ward from 29 Oct, review on 2 Dec, then Phase 2 if needed. Dates after 14 Oct are tentative.
15 Oct is close. Registering the SMS sender name (DLT) takes one to two weeks, and the privacy check must be done before we collect phone numbers. Both need to start now for a 15 Oct soft launch.
Milestones
| # | Milestone | Owner | Target | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | Product demo to CMCA | Ranga + Srivathsa | TBC | To schedule |
| M2 | Reward system agreed with CMCA | Ranga + Madhav · CMCA | Before 15 Oct | Under discussion |
| M3 | Pilot agreement signed (roles, costs, data, photos) | Madhav | 10 Oct | In discussion |
| M4 | SMS sender registration (DLT) filed | Ranga To confirm | Now | Urgent |
| M5 | Consent screens and privacy check done | Madhav + Ranga | Before 15 Oct | Pending |
| M6 | Testers lined up: ~100 Ward 23 residents, ~50 CMCA staff | Madhav + field team | 14 Oct | Pending |
| M7 | Phase 1: testing starts (soft launch) | All | 15 Oct* | To confirm |
| M8 | HCAP schools and trained students in Ward 23 identified | Field team + Madhav | 17 Oct | Pending |
| M9 | Launch plan of ~20 activities (schools, mayor, resident groups) | Sabiha | TBC | Pending |
| M10 | Testing findings fixed; app locked for ward launch | Ranga + Srivathsa | 28 Oct* | Planned |
| M11 | Ward 23 launch | Madhav + CMCA | 29 Oct* | Planned |
| M12 | Mid-pilot check: who is still playing, wrong checks, support issues | Madhav | 12 Nov | Planned |
| M13 | Phase 1 ends, data pulled; review with CMCA: stop, or continue to Phase 2 | Ranga · Madhav | 25 Nov · 2 Dec | Planned |
* Tentative.
Week by week
| Week | Product & deployment (Madhav) | Tech (Ranga, Srivathsa) | CMCA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Now – 14 Oct Prepare | Agree the reward system with CMCA. Pilot agreement. Session with Sabiha on outreach. Line up testers with the field team. Script and feedback form for one-on-one testing. | Product demo to CMCA (date to be set). Close the ~10% gap to version one. DLT filing. Ward boundary. Logging for metrics. | Yes / no on rewards (Naren's team). Pilot lead named. Field team at half time. List of CMCA staff testers. |
| 15 – 21 Oct* Testing | Run one-on-one sessions with residents. Note where people get stuck. CMCA staff testing in parallel. | Fix problems daily. | Field team sits with testers. Sabiha drafts the launch plan. |
| 22 – 28 Oct* Testing | Summarise findings; ready / not ready for the ward. WhatsApp starter pack: link, APK, Tamil how-to. | Fix findings. Lock the app on 28 Oct. | Mayor's message ready. Schools and resident groups lined up. |
| 29 Oct – 4 Nov* Live 1 | Ward launch. Track sign-ups and first actions daily. Support group. | Watch for errors and wrong checks. Same-day fixes. | Mayor's message. Class introductions. Resident group sessions. |
| 5 – 11 Nov Live 2 | Diwali clean-street family challenge. WhatsApp reminders. | Festival-litter spots on the map. | Push the challenge before the holiday. |
| 12 – 18 Nov Live 3 | Mid-pilot check (12 Nov). Spot hunt with parents. Children's Day. | Second awareness game. Leaderboards. | Shout-outs at school. |
| 19 – 25 Nov Live 4 | The counted week. Top spots play out the full story: reminder, escalation, cleaned up (no real mails). Final leaderboard. | Pull the data, build the results summary. | Prize and recognition event. |
| 26 Nov – 2 Dec Review | Phase 1 report. Decide with CMCA: stop, or continue to Phase 2. | What broke, what to change, cost for more users. | Feedback from teachers, field team and residents. |
| 3 Dec – 13 Jan Phase 2 · if needed | Continue in Ward 23 with fixes and reward changes from Phase 1. Weekly numbers to CMCA. Final report. | Fixes and changes from Phase 1. Pull the data at the end. | Keep schools and resident groups engaged through the holidays. |
04 / Success Metrics
Go / No-Go
Reviewed with CMCA on 2 Dec, and again after Phase 2 if it runs.
≥25%
of registered players still active in the last live week (19–25 Nov).
The pass / fail test. Diwali week is not counted.
Must meet
Players active in the last live week≥ 25%
Unsuitable content shown publicly0
Student profiles approved by a parent100% To confirm
Phase 1 · Testing 15–28 Oct
People tested (residents + CMCA staff)≈ 150
Residents who do a first action without helpMeasured
Where people get stuck, and how oftenLogged
Serious problems fixed before ward launchAll
Phase 1 · Ward launch 29 Oct–25 Nov
Monthly active users in Ward 23≈ 1,000
New players who act within 48 hours≥ 60%
Automatic checks that match a person's review≥ 90%
Tracked every week
Weekly active playersMeasured
Actions per player per weekMeasured
Players returning week on weekMeasured
Web link vs APK useMeasured
Impact in the ward
Verified reportsMeasured
Distinct garbage spots mappedMeasured
Segregation check-insMeasured
Spots cleaned up in the gameMeasured
Feedback and cost
Short survey: residents, parents, teachersEnd of pilot
Map data loaded per visit (sets the cost of a wider launch)Measured
Cost per active playerMeasured
05 / Updates
Updates, risks and decisions
Communication
Pilot review: progress, numbers, blockersWeekly · Madhav + CMCA pilot lead
Field issues and app problemsWhatsApp group · as they come
Single point of contact for CMCAMadhav
Status log
17 Aug · Nagarika demo at Friends of CMCA
19 Sep · Map and hosting approach finalised
1 Oct · Pilot design shared with CMCA
Early Oct · Call with CMCA: discussed whole ward, testing then ward launch, soft launch 15 Oct. Nothing agreed yet
2 Oct · Reward options written up (Ranga); under discussion with Sudhakar
Product demo to CMCA · date to be set
Phase 1 · testing weeks 1–2
Risks 12 open
| Risk | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct is close: SMS registration (1–2 weeks) and privacy check needed before testers sign up | High | File DLT now. Confirm the date with CMCA. Move the soft launch if either is not ready. |
| Residents can't work out what to do in the app | High | One-on-one testing with ~100 residents who were not briefed. Fix before the ward launch. |
| Children's data and parent consent | High | Privacy check before launch. Parent approval of student profiles to be decided. |
| A whole-ward launch goes wrong in public | Medium | Soft launch first. Say clearly that it is still being tested. Kept to one ward. |
| Reward system not agreed in time | Medium | Options and open questions written up on one page; under discussion with Sudhakar. |
| Pilot budget not yet final, and costs grow with ~1,000 users (SMS, hosting, review) | Medium | Full budget prepared with the pilot agreement, sized for the ward launch. |
| An unsuitable photo gets through the automatic check | Medium | Photos hidden until they pass. Flagged reports held for review. |
| Diwali holidays lower activity in week 2 of the launch | Medium | Diwali family challenge. That week is not counted. |
| Families hesitate to install an app file (APK) | Medium | Web link offered first. APK shared only through CMCA and school groups. |
| Siblings share one phone | Medium | Activity counted per player, not per phone. |
| Phone location is off or inaccurate | Medium | Reports accepted within a small distance of the spot. Failed checks held for review. |
| Fewer sign-ups than expected | Medium | Mayor's message, schools, resident groups and the field team. Sign-ups tracked daily. |
Assumptions
- The game reaches families first through HCAP schools, then through the mayor and resident groups. If not, sign-ups and the timeline change.
- CMCA nominates a pilot lead, and the Hosur field team gives about half its time.
- Schools give class time to introduce the app.
- Most families have at least one Android phone.
- Parents are reachable through school WhatsApp groups.
Proposed to CMCA Not agreed
Whole Ward 23, not part of itEarly Oct
Phase 1 (6 weeks): test with ~150, then the ward. Phase 2 (6 weeks) if not close to targetEarly Oct
Resident and CMCA testing run in parallelEarly Oct
No Ramanagara until Hosur succeedsEarly Oct
A2Z decisions
Tamil + English1 Oct
Escalation inside the game only; no mails to HMCSep
Web link + APK; no Play StoreSep
Own map server; Ola off; Google dropped19 Sep
Phone + username sign-in; Indian SMS provider11 Aug
Madhav is single point of contactSep
06 / Commercials
Agreement and costs
Pilot agreement In discussion
BetweenA2Z Antifragility Foundation × CMCA
PilotWard 23, Hosur · 15 Oct – 25 Nov 2026 (tentative)
Target sign-off10 Oct 2026
RolesCMCA brings schools, residents and the launch. A2Z builds, runs and supports the app.
Who paysTo be agreed
CoversRoles, costs, data ownership, how photos are stored and for how long
Pilot budget Being prepared
The full budget will be shared with the pilot agreement. It will cover:
- Hosting, database, backups and SMS login codes
- One-time setup: accounts, SMS sender registration, domain
- AI checks on photos and AI-written descriptions
- Tamil translation
- Privacy check
- Time for reviewing flagged reports
- Prizes, launch and prize events, onboarding materials
- Field travel
After the pilot
On 2 Dec, A2Z and CMCA review Phase 1. If it is not yet close to the 25% target, the pilot continues for 6 more weeks (Phase 2, 3 Dec – 13 Jan). After the pilot, options include expanding to more HCAP wards, a Hosur-wide launch with CSR partners, a second phase in Ward 23 with real complaints to HMC, or a revised re-run. Other towns such as Ramanagara come after Hosur succeeds.
Documents
Key documents
Reference papers for the Ward 23 pilot. Ask Madhav for any marked "on request".
Pilot plan
This portal: scope, timeline, metrics, risks, costs
Incentives and rewards
Why rewards, every option, and what is still open (Ranga, 2 Oct). Under discussion with Sudhakar
Game design and 17 Aug demo
How the game works: activities, tools, map
Pilot budget
Full costs for the pilot, shared with the agreement
Pilot agreement draft
Roles, costs, data ownership, photo storage
Launch and outreach plan
About 20 activities for the ward launch (Sabiha)