Bhubaneswar: Applications for caste, residence and income certificates will soon be available through WhatsApp, allowing citizens to register their mobile numbers and access revenue department services through the messaging app, revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said on Wednesday.Pujari said the WhatsApp-based service delivery system will be launched by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday. “This is another step towards ease of living, enabling people to avail govt services with minimum hassle through digital governance,” he said.
Apart from certificates, services such as applications for change of land category will also be offered through WhatsApp. Timelines for each service will remain as prescribed under the Odisha Right to Public Services Act, 2012, the minister said.Once an application is submitted, citizens will receive an automated acknowledgement and a service timeline on WhatsApp. They will also get regular updates on the progress of their applications and any deficiencies, without the need for physical visits or human interface.The minister said the initiative aims to reduce citizens’ dependence on govt offices, thereby further curbing corruption. Citizens will also be able to lodge complaints related to corruption or delays in service delivery through WhatsApp, which will be directly accessible to the revenue minister.Pujari said the govt is committed to rooting out corruption and improving accountability, adding that citizens can also share feedback through the same platform. The state govt earlier rolled out several revenue services online and through the Odisha One (MoSeva) app.
