'Mana Mitra' Brings Government to Your Fingertips, Says Nara Lokesh
Andhra Pradesh IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh has launched 'Mana Mitra,' the country’s first WhatsApp-based governance initiative, aimed at streamlining public services and making governance more accessible to citizens. The initiative was formally inaugurated at his residence in Undavalli. To facilitate this service, the state government has designated an official WhatsApp number: 9552300009.
Speaking at the launch, Nara Lokesh said, “Mana Mitra puts governance in the hands of the people. This is a citizen-centric government.” He explained that the idea originated from his 3,132 km-long ‘Yuvagalam’ padayatra, where people repeatedly questioned the inefficiencies in obtaining official documents and accessing public services. “We can order food, book a cab, or watch a movie with a single click—why can't governance be just as accessible?” he asked.
Lokesh emphasized that citizens should no longer have to visit government offices for documents and other services. He shared experiences from his padayatra, where people frequently raised concerns about the repetitive need for caste and income certificates, seamless payment of electricity bills, and the lack of advance ticketing for bus travel.
Highlighting past governance inefficiencies, Lokesh alleged that in the last five years, certificates were deliberately withheld, citing an instance where a TDP candidate in Duggirala was denied necessary documents during the MPTC elections. He said “This initiative ensures no one suffers for essential documents again.” He noted that with over 60% of the population using smartphones, WhatsApp-based services were an ideal solution.
To bring this initiative to fruition, the Andhra Pradesh government collaborated with Meta. Lokesh recounted his meeting with Meta India Head Sandhya Devanathan, where he proposed integrating multiple government services into a single platform. Following discussions, the state government signed an MoU with Meta on October 22, 2023, in New Delhi. “We took this as a challenge and committed to launching by December. Now, just three months and nine days later, we are delivering on that promise,” he stated.
In the first phase, 'Mana Mitra' will offer 161 public services, with plans to expand to 360 services in the second phase. The initiative connects 36 government departments and enables real-time access to official certificates. Each certificate will feature a QR code linking to the Andhra Pradesh government’s website, preventing document fraud.
Nara Lokesh also announced plans to incorporate blockchain technology for added security. The second phase will introduce AI chatbots and voice-based services, making Andhra Pradesh the first state globally to implement WhatsApp-based governance at this scale.
He further revealed that the system consolidates real-time data from various government departments into a centralized data lake, ensuring seamless service delivery. He praised his team’s dedication over the past three months and acknowledged the need for further refinements. “This is a journey. In six months, people will witness a transformation,” he declared.
Meta India Vice President and Head Sandhya Devanathan expressed her excitement about collaborating on the initiative, noting WhatsApp’s growing role in people’s daily lives. She stated, “Mana Mitra will make 161 public services easily accessible. We are committed to refining this further with the Andhra Pradesh government.”
WhatsApp India Director Ravi Garg highlighted the uniqueness of the initiative, stating, “While we work with several state governments, no other platform integrates all services like Mana Mitra. Citizens can now access services simply by typing ‘Hi’ on WhatsApp.”
The launch event was attended by Bhaskar Katamneni, Secretary of IT, Electronics & Communications, K. Dinesh, CEO of RTGS, and other key officials.
Speaking at the launch, Nara Lokesh said, “Mana Mitra puts governance in the hands of the people. This is a citizen-centric government.” He explained that the idea originated from his 3,132 km-long ‘Yuvagalam’ padayatra, where people repeatedly questioned the inefficiencies in obtaining official documents and accessing public services. “We can order food, book a cab, or watch a movie with a single click—why can't governance be just as accessible?” he asked.
Lokesh emphasized that citizens should no longer have to visit government offices for documents and other services. He shared experiences from his padayatra, where people frequently raised concerns about the repetitive need for caste and income certificates, seamless payment of electricity bills, and the lack of advance ticketing for bus travel.
Highlighting past governance inefficiencies, Lokesh alleged that in the last five years, certificates were deliberately withheld, citing an instance where a TDP candidate in Duggirala was denied necessary documents during the MPTC elections. He said “This initiative ensures no one suffers for essential documents again.” He noted that with over 60% of the population using smartphones, WhatsApp-based services were an ideal solution.
To bring this initiative to fruition, the Andhra Pradesh government collaborated with Meta. Lokesh recounted his meeting with Meta India Head Sandhya Devanathan, where he proposed integrating multiple government services into a single platform. Following discussions, the state government signed an MoU with Meta on October 22, 2023, in New Delhi. “We took this as a challenge and committed to launching by December. Now, just three months and nine days later, we are delivering on that promise,” he stated.
In the first phase, 'Mana Mitra' will offer 161 public services, with plans to expand to 360 services in the second phase. The initiative connects 36 government departments and enables real-time access to official certificates. Each certificate will feature a QR code linking to the Andhra Pradesh government’s website, preventing document fraud.
Nara Lokesh also announced plans to incorporate blockchain technology for added security. The second phase will introduce AI chatbots and voice-based services, making Andhra Pradesh the first state globally to implement WhatsApp-based governance at this scale.
He further revealed that the system consolidates real-time data from various government departments into a centralized data lake, ensuring seamless service delivery. He praised his team’s dedication over the past three months and acknowledged the need for further refinements. “This is a journey. In six months, people will witness a transformation,” he declared.
Meta India Vice President and Head Sandhya Devanathan expressed her excitement about collaborating on the initiative, noting WhatsApp’s growing role in people’s daily lives. She stated, “Mana Mitra will make 161 public services easily accessible. We are committed to refining this further with the Andhra Pradesh government.”
WhatsApp India Director Ravi Garg highlighted the uniqueness of the initiative, stating, “While we work with several state governments, no other platform integrates all services like Mana Mitra. Citizens can now access services simply by typing ‘Hi’ on WhatsApp.”
The launch event was attended by Bhaskar Katamneni, Secretary of IT, Electronics & Communications, K. Dinesh, CEO of RTGS, and other key officials.