Odisha Government, Meta Launch ‘Ama Sathi’ WhatsApp Chatbot to Deliver 120 Citizen Services
Accessible in both Odia and English, Ama Sathi will enable over 45 million citizens across the state to obtain birth and income certificates, apply for driving and fertilizer licenses, and access key government schemes like the National Family Benefits Scheme.
Bhubaneswar, September 29: The Government of Odisha, in partnership with Meta, has launched Ama Sathi, a unified WhatsApp chatbot designed to provide citizens with seamless access to essential public services. The chatbot, available on WhatsApp number 9437292000, is equipped with voice capabilities and initially offers 120 services, with plans to expand to 500 in the coming months.
Accessible in both Odia and English, Ama Sathi will enable over 45 million citizens across the state to obtain birth and income certificates, apply for driving and fertilizer licenses, and access key government schemes like the National Family Benefits Scheme. The platform also integrates grievance redressal, housing, urban development, agriculture, education, police, and revenue services, making it a one-stop digital assistant for citizens.
Speaking at the launch, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja highlighted the state’s commitment to citizen-centric governance. “This unified WhatsApp platform will simplify processes, remove barriers, and empower every citizen—from urban centers to the remotest corners of the state—to access essential services with ease and efficiency,” he said.
Meta India’s Managing Director and Country Head, Arun Srinivas, said the initiative underscores the role of technology in enabling transparent and efficient governance. “By enabling real-time interaction with government services, WhatsApp reduces friction, simplifies processes, and ensures that essential services are available anytime within a chat,” he remarked.
The chatbot also integrates women and childcare services, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) utilities like payment collections, and even urban transport and ticketing to make city commutes smoother. By centralizing such diverse services, the government aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and convenience.
With Ama Sathi, Odisha becomes the second state after Andhra Pradesh to launch such a WhatsApp chatbot—its Mana Mitra bot currently offers over 700 services. Meta has also recently signed an MoU with Tamil Nadu to provide citizen services through WhatsApp.
The Ama Sathi bot is being developed by Meta’s partner Business Intelligence Professionals, and with its future expansion to 500 services, it is expected to significantly transform the way citizens interact with government departments in Odisha.
