In a move to simplify access to public services, the Tamil Nadu government has introduced a WhatsApp-based chatbot. The program was established through a Memorandum of Understanding, with IT Minister Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan and Principal Secretary Brajendra Navnit in attendance. The chatbot provides access to a wide range of approximately 50 government services through a single number.
Citizens can use the chatbot in either Tamil or English. It is designed to facilitate various transactions, including filing complaints, making payments for utilities like electricity and water, settling municipal taxes, and purchasing metro tickets.
Government representatives have emphasized that this initiative is intended to reduce the requirement for in-person visits to service centers. They aim to deliver these services directly to people’s mobile phones, stating that the chatbot will enable easy access to government services, regardless of time or location.