Bhubaneswar: The Centre for Modernising Government Initiative (CMGI) organised an orientation programme for members of the ICC Women Entrepreneurship Council (INWEC) on the Odisha Right to Public Services Act (ORTPSA) and the Ama Sathi Unified WhatsApp Bot, aimed at improving awareness of digital governance and citizen services in the State.
The programme, held at the Convention Centre in Lok Seva Bhawan on May 15, focused on enhancing understanding of citizens’ rights under the Odisha Right to Public Services Act and the use of technology-driven systems to access government services.
Addressing the participants, CMGI Executive Director Surendra Kumar Meena highlighted the State government’s efforts to involve civil society organisations in spreading awareness about welfare initiatives and public service delivery systems.
He informed the gathering that the Odisha Cabinet has approved the Auto Appeal System under ORTPSA, a mechanism intended to reduce delays in grievance redressal and service delivery.
Under the system, if a designated official fails to deliver a service within the stipulated timeline, the request will be automatically escalated to a higher authority, thereby improving accountability and efficiency in governance.
A technical session led by ORTPSA Project Coordinator Pinaki Mohanty provided participants with an overview of public service delivery mechanisms, the need for the Right to Public Services Act and its provisions.
Mohanty also explained the architecture of the Auto Appeal System, stating that digital integration would eliminate the need for citizens to manually file appeals when deadlines are missed, making public services more transparent and accessible.
Participants were also briefed on the Ama Sathi Unified WhatsApp Bot, a digital platform developed to simplify access to government services and improve user experience. A live demonstration of the platform was conducted with support from Meta India.
Speaking on the occasion, INWEC Convenor Swati Kejriwal appreciated the Odisha government and CMGI for organising what she described as an informative and citizen-focused programme.
“The session enriched our understanding of digital governance initiatives, citizens’ rights under ORTPSA, and the ease of accessing services through the Ama Sathi WhatsApp platform,” she said.
INWEC member and entrepreneur Nivediata Narula said the programme highlighted Odisha’s efforts to strengthen citizen-centric digital governance and improve transparency in service delivery.
Samidha Sathpathy, Director of Magnum Group of Companies and an INWEC member, described the session on Ama Sathi as “an eye-opener”, saying such initiatives could help build a more informed and digitally connected society.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Deputy Project Coordinator Sarita Kanungo.
