The Odisha government introduced a consolidated WhatsApp chatbot that will provide access to 120 services, including the ability to obtain birth and income certificates for residents throughout the state.

According to reports, individuals can apply for driving and fertilizer licenses and access incentives like the National Family Benefits Scheme through the chatbot 'Ama Sathi' (my companion), which was introduced by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja.

Accessible in both Odia and English, the "one-stop digital assistant" can be reached through a single WhatsApp number 9437292000 and features voice functionalities.

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"Ahuja mentioned that this chatbot allows individuals to easily submit and monitor public complaints, obtain resources for housing and urban development, and engage with various administrative services. He also noted that the chatbot offers assistance in education, agriculture, and horticulture, ensuring that both farmers and students receive prompt information and support."

Residents of Odisha can also reach out to police services for help, verify land records and revenue information.

In addition to this, the chief secretary also launched a dynamic Dashboard for the Central Monitoring System (CMS) of the Odisha Right to Public Services Act.

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The Ama Sathi integrated chatbot was created by the Centre for Modernizing Government Initiative (CMGI) in partnership with Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp.

Stating that ease of access to public services is still a challenge in Odisha, Executive Director CMGI Vineet Bharadwaj said, "We believe that WhatsApp will enable citizens to avail the desired services on one single platform through a single number, enabling swift and convenient access to services. We aim to deliver all public services through WhatsApp by March 2026, enabling citizens to access them through text and voice."

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Arun Srinivas, Managing Director and Country Head of Meta says, "By enabling real-time interaction with government services, WhatsApp reduces friction, simplifies processes, and ensures that essential services are available to people anytime, directly within their WhatsApp chat. This initiative demonstrates how technology can drive citizen-centric governance and positively impact the daily lives of people across the state."