Odisha partners with Meta for Ama Sathi Unified WhatsApp Bot

In a significant leap toward technology-driven public service delivery, the Government of Odisha, in association with Meta Platforms, has launched the Ama Sathi Unified WhatsApp bot, a pioneering initiative aimed at transforming how citizens access government services. With this launch, Odisha became the second state in India, after Andhra Pradesh, to deploy a unified WhatsApp-based platform for government services bringing governance directly to citizen’s mobile phones. At its core, Ama Sathi is more than a chatbot, it is a digital bridge.

Launched by Manoj Ahuja, Chief Secretary of Odisha, the initiative reflects the state’s commitment to simplifying access to essential services such as certificates, permits, and administrative approvals especially at the last mile. By leveraging WhatsApp, a platform already embedded in everyday life, Ama Sathi removes long-standing barriers of distance, digital literacy, and bureaucratic complexity.

Citizens can now submit 175 service requests, track application status in real time, receive verified responses to queries, and interact in multiple local languages. Secure OTP-based authentication ensures trust, while a built-in feedback mechanism keeps the system responsive and adaptive.

From rural villages to urban business hubs, early adoption stories paint a compelling picture. Citizens who once spent days navigating government offices now complete processes within minutes. Entrepreneurs experience faster permit approvals, and first-time digital users find confidence through intuitive, language-friendly interactions. During the pilot phase itself, the platform demonstrated up to 40% reduction in service processing time, underlining its impact on efficiency and transparency.

As Odisha accelerates toward a fully digital governance ecosystem, Ama Sathi stands out as a scalable, citizen-centric model, one that other states are already watching closely.