Gujarat Pioneers WhatsApp Governance with New Citizen Services

Harshad Govind Parmar, newly elected to the Umreth assembly seat, was officially sworn in as a Member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly in Gandhinagar on Tuesday. The ceremony, attended by Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, was marked by the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Accompanying the event were Chief Whip Balkrishna Shukla, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rushikesh Patel, and various state council ministers and MLAs. Significantly, under the leadership of Chief Minister Patel, Gujarat has transitioned from One Day Governance to WhatsApp Governance, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Nagrik Devo Bhava' vision.

In Gandhinagar, an MoU was formalized between the State Government and Meta Platforms Inc. The agreement, witnessed by Chief Minister Patel, introduces approximately 20 citizen services accessible via WhatsApp chatbot through the Sugam Digital Gujarat Initiatives. This integration ensures these services are simplified and expedited, enhancing last-mile delivery.

The WhatsApp-based services will be available in English and Gujarati, allowing citizens to access essential services like grievance redressal, income and caste certificates, ration card updates, and more from home using a single number. Such advancements will liberate citizens from navigating web portals or visiting government offices, streamlining governmental interaction and access.

(With inputs from agencies.)