In a novel initiative, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced the introduction of ‘WhatsApp governance’ in the state, offering a host of citizen services through the popular messaging platform.
“The idea is to obviate the need for people to visit government offices or officials to utilise certain services. Soon 150 types of citizen services will be available to them on WhatsApp through their mobile phones” Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said.
A pilot project for these services will be launched in Tenali town by month-end, under the state’s WhatsApp governance initiative. The Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS), an e-governance nodal agency, will oversee the development of the project.
Chief Secretary K Vijayanand said that the pilot project would be conducted at Tenali by the end of January.
“In line with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision, the state government will soon offer WhatsApp governance services to the public. As part of this initiative, people will soon be able to obtain birth and death certificates easily through WhatsApp,” Vijayanand said.
The services will include the issue of caste certificates, birth certificates, land records, nativity certificates, and more. By making these services available on WhatsApp, citizens will no longer need to visit government offices, saving time and effort.
The idea of offering 150 services through WhatsApp stemmed from public feedback received during the TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh’s pre-election “Yuvagalam Padayatra”. During the walkathon, youth and citizens highlighted the challenges of obtaining certificates. They suggested that if groceries and other necessities could be ordered via WhatsApp, government services should also be accessible in the same way.
In response, Lokesh, now minister for IT and HRD, promised to implement a system where permanent certificates could be obtained via WhatsApp, once the TDP came to power. The current “WhatsApp Governance” initiative fulfils that promise.
The Andhra Pradesh government has entered into a significant agreement with Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, to enable the issuance of caste certificates and other documents without requiring visits to government offices. Citizens will also be able to pay various bills through WhatsApp.
Under this agreement, signed in November 2024, the state government will provide various certificates, licenses, and other services directly through mobile phones as part of its advanced e-Governance initiative.
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