Odisha today became India’s second state after Andhra Pradesh to partner with Meta to launch ‘Ama Sathi’ WhatsApp chatbot for citizen-centric services, State’s Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja said on Friday.
The unified chatbot, unveiled today, will make 120 citizen services accessible to more than 45 million people across the state.
“The Government of Odisha is committed to delivering seamless public services, ensuring that every citizen experiences convenience and efficiency at the last mile. This commitment is underscored by our investment in technology and training, aiming to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and enhance overall accessibility,” Ahuja said.
The chatbot, developed by the Centre for Modernizing Government Initiative (CMGI) in collaboration with Meta India, will expand to more than 500 services going forward, further simplifying access to government services across departments.
Through this chatbot, citizens will be able to access critical government services, including obtaining birth and income certificates, applying for driving and fertilizer licenses, and accessing incentives such as the National Family Benefits Scheme.
Available in both Odia and English, the chatbot is accessible via a single WhatsApp number – 9437292000 – and comes with voice capabilities.
Along with this, a dynamic Dashboard of the Odisha Right to Public Services Act’s Central Monitoring System (CMS) was also launched.
The launching programme took place at the State Secretariat in presence of Chief Secretary Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary Surendra Kumar, among others.
–ENDS