The Odisha Government has been conferred the prestigious Technology Sabha Excellence Award for its pioneering **Ama Sathi Unified WhatsApp BOT**, a flagship digital initiative recognised by Express Computer, part of the Indian Express Group.
The award was presented on 27 February 2026 at the Technology Sabha event held at Trident Hyderabad. It honours exceptional innovation, scalability, impact, and sustainability in deploying technology for citizen-centric public services.
Accepting the award on behalf of the state, Surendra Kumar Meena, IAS, Executive Director of the Centre for Modernising Government Initiative (CMGI) under the General Administration Department, highlighted the initiative’s role in bridging the gap between citizens and government.
The Technology Sabha Excellence Awards, judged by a distinguished panel of senior government officials, industry leaders, and tech experts, stand as one of India’s most respected accolades in the domain of technology-enabled governance.
Launched in collaboration with Meta, Ama Sathi serves as a unified platform on WhatsApp, allowing citizens to access a wide array of government services — from certificates and scheme applications to revenue-related queries — through a familiar, single interface (via number 9437292000). Available in Odia and English, it eliminates the need for multiple apps or office visits, promoting inclusivity, transparency, and efficiency for over 4.5 crore residents.
Surendra Kumar Meena remarked, “Ama Sathi Unified WhatsApp BOT represents our vision of doorstep governance. By meeting citizens on a platform they already use daily, we are enhancing accessibility, building trust, and delivering responsive services through technology.”
This award reaffirms Odisha’s position as a frontrunner in digital governance, showcasing its commitment to leveraging emerging tools for inclusive, efficient, and future-oriented public service delivery.
