Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Friday signed an MoU with Meta in India to launch a unified WhatsApp chatbot that will offer all public services to more than 45 million people in the state.
The Unified WhatsApp Chatbot will integrate 429 government services into a single WhatsApp number. “Through this chatbot, citizens will be able to access vital government services like obtaining birth and income certificates, applying for driving and fertiliser licences, and accessing incentives such as the National Family Benefits Scheme, all through a single WhatsApp number,” an official release said.
The MoU signing took place at Lok Seva Bhavan in presence of Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary, GA&PG Department, Surendra Kumar, Director General, Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, G Mathivathanan, Commissoner-cum-Secretary, Higher Education Department Aravind Agrawal and Former Information Commissioner and Mentor, CYSD Jagadananda.
The Centre for Modernizing Government Initiative (CMGI) signed the MoU on behalf of the state government with Meta India.
“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.
Garg stressed the government’s commitment to ensuring last-mile public service delivery. She spoke about accountability and simplicity in service delivery. “I am confident that people would avail services and empower them with ease through the Unified WhatsApp BOT,” she added.
Executive director of CMGI Vineet Bharadwaj said ease of access to public services is still a challenge in the state. “We believe that WhatsApp will enable citizens to avail the desired services on one single platform. We will deliver all public services notified under ORTPSA through WhatsApp by the end of 2025, enabling citizens to access them through text and voice,” he informed.
Director, Business Messaging, Meta in India, Ravi Garg said “The ease and simplicity of WhatsApp makes it a preferred choice for people to get things done from connecting with friends and family to booking tickets, paying bills and accessing public services. We are thrilled to partner with the Government of Odisha and bring the power and reach of WhatsApp to millions of people in the state, giving them easy access to citizen services at their fingertips.”
Meta has earlier partnered with the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra to introduce WhatsApp-based citizen service delivery models, aimed at enhancing accessibility and efficiency.
