Tamil Nadu launches WhatsApp-based chatbot offering easy access to government services

The Tamil Nadu government has launched a WhatsApp-based chatbot to make public services easier to access. The service, announced through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in the presence of IT Minister Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan and Principal Secretary Brajendra Navnit, will allow people to access 50 government services through a single number.


The chatbot will be available in both Tamil and English. Citizens can use it to file complaints, make utility payments such as electricity and water bills, pay municipal taxes, and even book metro tickets.


Officials said the aim is to cut down visits to service centres and bring services directly to people’s mobile phones. “The chatbot will make it possible to access government services anytime, anywhere,” an official said.


Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Honourable Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, Tamil Nadu said, “The Government of Tamil Nadu has a clear vision to lead India’s digital transformation by making governance more people-centric, transparent, and inclusive. This partnership with Meta is a decisive step in that journey. By combining the state’s commitment to e-Governance with the simplicity and reach of WhatsApp, we are ensuring that technology works for every citizen of Tamil Nadu in the most simplified way redefining how people connect access citizen services”


Ravi Garg, Director, Business Messaging, Meta in India, said, “WhatsApp is a platform that is familiar to people across India, and its simplicity and ease of use make it the ideal platform to provide digital access to government services. We are excited to collaborate with the Government of Tamil Nadu in their endeavor to transform how citizens engage with government services, making them more convenient, efficient, and accessible to all."