The Mana Mitra chatbot is available in both Telugu and English, making it more accessible to a wide range of people across the state
In a move aimed at revolutionizing digital governance, the Andhra Pradesh government has partnered with Meta to launch Mana Mitra, a WhatsApp chatbot designed to offer residents access to over 160 public services. This initiative allows citizens to conveniently book bus tickets, pay electricity bills, and file grievances, all through a single platform on WhatsApp. With the Mana Mitra chatbot, the state aims to simplify the way residents interact with government services.
The Mana Mitra chatbot is available in both Telugu and English, making it more accessible to a wide range of people across Andhra Pradesh. The AP government chatbot integrates essential public services directly into WhatsApp, making governance more accessible and efficient.
Also Read: Meta seeks urgent fix to AI chatbot’s inability to name current US president
By doing so, Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in India to launch a digital public services chatbot on WhatsApp at this scale, allowing residents to access everything from temple seva bookings to municipal services, all within the app.
Bookings and payments simplified
In addition to these services, Mana Mitra services include a user-friendly system for bus ticket reservations. Citizens can check real-time availability, select travel dates, and make bookings directly within WhatsApp, eliminating the need for third-party websites or apps. Users can also make payments for services such as bookings and bill payments directly through WhatsApp using UPI, debit, or credit cards.
The WhatsApp public services offered through the chatbot are designed to make governance simpler and more efficient, particularly for those already familiar with using WhatsApp in their daily lives. Residents can access Mana Mitra by sending a “Hi” message to 9552300009 on WhatsApp.
Lokesh Nara, Minister of Human Resource Development, Information Technology, and Electronics for the Government of Andhra Pradesh, expressed his enthusiasm about the launch, saying, “Mana Mitra symbolizes our vision for a digitally inclusive Andhra Pradesh, where citizens can access key public services as easily as chatting with friends.”
Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President of Meta in India, added, “We are excited to collaborate with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to bring over 160 citizen-centric services directly to people’s fingertips on a platform they use throughout the day.”
