Sugam Digital Gujarat: WhatsApp-based citizen services via MoU with Meta

Key facts

• The Gujarat government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Meta Platforms Inc (Meta) in Gandhinagar to provide citizen-centric services via a WhatsApp chatbot.
• The initiative is part of the 'Sugam Digital Gujarat' programme, launched by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on March 24, following recommendations from the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC).
• Nearly 20 citizen-centric services from five departments will be made available through a single WhatsApp number.
• The available services include grievance redressal assistance, income certificates, caste certificates, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificates, ration card updates, revenue records, and official affidavits.
• The GARC clubbed the top 20 most availed services into seven categories: Ration card, income certificate, caste certificate, non-creamy layer certificate, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) certificate, EWS certificate, and affidavits.
• A digital locker is being introduced under the 'Sugam Digital Gujarat' initiative to eliminate the need for citizens to resubmit the same documents repeatedly.