Smart Governance: FIR copy, character certificate among 14 services now available on WhatsApp

Bhubaneswar: People in Odisha can now access 14 citizen-centric services by Odisha Police through WhatsApp without visiting a police station or the concerned office, as part of a new digital initiative launched by the Odisha Police.

Director General of Police Vinaytosh Mishra launched the services at the DGP Camp Office in Bhubaneswar on Friday. The services have been integrated with the Odisha government’s ‘Ama Sathi’ WhatsApp bot to make police services faster, simpler, transparent and more citizen-friendly.

Citizens can apply for the services from home by submitting the required information and documents through WhatsApp. They will also receive a reference or application number, which can be used to track the status of their application. For services where digital documents are available, approved documents can also be received through WhatsApp after the process is completed. As many as 14 police services are now available through ‘Ama Sathi’ app.

Citizens need to save the ‘Ama Sathi’ WhatsApp number 9437292000 on their mobile phones and send ‘Hi’ to begin. After selecting the preferred language, users will be shown the available police services. They can select the required service and submit the necessary information and documents through WhatsApp.

The application will then be forwarded to the concerned police office or authority for processing. Users will receive a reference/application number and can use it to track the status of their application through WhatsApp.

‘Ama Sathi’ Services

• Character certificate
• Senior citizen registration
• Employee verification
• Report related to lost property or documents
• NOC for loudspeaker permission
• Tenant/PG verification
• Registration of lost property
• Missing person information and registration
• Complaint registration
• Verification for employment of domestic help/employees
• Permission for events and demonstrations
• Permission for dharna/protests
• Copy of FIR
• Copy of final form related to road accidents, stolen vehicles and theft cases