VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh’s WhatsApp Governance platform Mana Mitra has emerged as a vital communication channel for people affected by Cyclone Arnab. The platform receiving more than 1,500 grievances, of which over 95 per cent got resolved by the government on a war footing.
Ahead of the cyclone, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and IT minister Nara Lokesh directed officials to facilitate the use of Mana Mitra to ensure that people received timely assistance during the disaster. Acting on their directions, the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) made special arrangements to receive and monitor cyclone-related complaints through the platform. It also undertook extensive awareness initiatives to encourage people in affected areas to use the facility to report emergencies and access government assistance.
This enabled citizens in cyclone-hit areas to directly bring their problems to the government’s notice and seek emergency assistance without having to visit government offices.
Their complaints covered a range of problems, including waterlogging, fallen trees, power outages, shortage of drinking water, non-availability of food, lack of medicines, and requests for emergency assistance.
RTGS secretary Bhaskar Katamneni and RTGS CEO Prakhar Jain personally monitored every grievance to ensure speedy redressal.
They and their staff immediately forwarded the requests to the respective Swarna Grama and Swarna Ward offices and the concerned departmental officials for necessary action. RTGS leadership closely tracked the progress of every complaint to prevent delays in providing relief.
The highest number of grievances came from the Godavari region, particularly Konaseema, Kakinada, and East Godavari and West Godavari districts, which bore a significant impact of the cyclone. Hundreds of complaints had also been received from north Andhra, especially Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts.
Incidentally, Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority’s control rooms received 741 calls through emergency helplines 112, 1070, and 1800 425 0101. Officials responded promptly and addressed the grievances on priority.
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