The Andhra Pradesh government is taking a significant step toward digital governance by launching a pilot project in Tenali Assembly constituency to deliver government services via WhatsApp. Starting at the end of January, residents of Tenali will be able to access birth and death certificates through the popular messaging platform.
Chief Secretary K Vijayanand announced the initiative, emphasizing that it aligns with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of making government services more accessible and citizen-friendly. This groundbreaking move aims to harness technology to simplify processes and reduce the need for physical visits to government offices.
During a meeting at the Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS) office at the Secretariat, the Chief Secretary reviewed the project’s progress and outlined the importance of testing the system in Tenali. He stressed that using the constituency as a pilot site will allow the government to identify and address potential challenges before scaling the initiative statewide.
“This project is about bringing governance closer to the people,” Vijayanand stated. “The Chief Minister is committed to using innovative solutions like WhatsApp Governance to enhance convenience and efficiency in public service delivery.”
The Chief Secretary urged the departments of Panchayati Raj, Health and Medical, and Municipal Administration to collaborate closely with RTGS officials to ensure the initiative’s success. By pooling resources and expertise, these departments can address technical and logistical hurdles that may arise during the pilot phase.
Principal Secretary (RTG) S Suresh Kumar assured that extensive preparations have been made to ensure the system’s reliability. He emphasized the importance of avoiding errors in the issuance of certificates via WhatsApp and highlighted measures taken to refine the process at the field level.
RTGS Chief Executive Officer K Dinesh Kumar added that the pilot will evaluate the technical aspects of issuing certificates across all panchayats and municipalities within the Tenali constituency. The initiative leverages the Andhra Pradesh Civil Registration System (AP CRS), which has been integrated into a newly developed portal.
The pilot project’s success could pave the way for WhatsApp Governance to become a cornerstone of digital governance in Andhra Pradesh. By streamlining access to essential documents, the government aims to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and make public services more user-friendly.
This initiative represents a bold step toward modernizing governance by adopting widely used technology. If successful, it has the potential to inspire similar projects in other states, positioning Andhra Pradesh as a leader in digital public service delivery.
The pilot’s outcome will be closely monitored, with insights gained used to refine and expand the initiative. With the Tenali project as its testing ground, the state is setting an example of how technology can transform governance to meet the evolving needs of citizens.
