Governance Through WhatsApp : The Delhi government is now making people’s daily lives easier. The government will soon launch a new initiative called Governance Through WhatsApp, or WhatsApp Governance.
Under this scheme, people will be able to obtain birth certificates, marriage certificates, caste certificates, property tax payments, and many other government services from the comfort of their homes by simply sending a WhatsApp message.
Citizens will no longer need to queue at government offices or visit multiple websites. All services will be available from a single platform, and people will be able to check their application status in real time.
WhatsApp chatbots offer easy access to government services
Under this facility, the Delhi government will issue a dedicated WhatsApp number. Citizens simply need to save the number on their phone and send ‘Hi’. An AI-powered chatbot will then speak to them and help them select the service they need. People will be able to upload required documents, make online payments, and check their application status within the same chat.
The first phase of this initiative will include services related to birth, caste, and marriage certificates, property tax, and driving licenses. Later, it will also be linked to e-district and other departmental portals, making around 50 government services available on WhatsApp.
The digital system will be completely safe
The government has taken utmost care to ensure security and privacy. All documents and information uploaded to the chatbot will be encrypted and secure. OCR and AI scanning will also make documents digital and machine-readable, making verification faster and easier. Payments will be made secure through UPI, WhatsApp payments, credit/debit cards, and net banking, with automatic receipt generation for each transaction. This initiative will fully digitize Delhi.
Opt-in campaign to engage citizens
The Delhi government will assign each department a unique WhatsApp business number, allowing departments to share information, photos, and videos related to their schemes. Citizens will be able to respond directly to this chat, submit necessary documents, and receive updates.
Opt-in campaigns will be conducted through missed calls, messages, emails, and QR codes to encourage people to sign up for the service. Users will receive bills, certificates, reminders, and payment receipts directly on WhatsApp. Officials say this project will take Delhi to the next level of digital governance.
