Centre Praises Andhra Pradesh’s Mana Mitra WhatsApp Governance Model

Andhra Pradesh’s innovative use of WhatsApp-based governance to manage public grievances during Cyclone Arnab has earned appreciation from a seven-member central government assessment team. The team praised the state’s Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) for its effective coordination and real-time monitoring of disaster management operations, saying the model could be replicated across the country.

Led by Chittaranjan Das, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry, the central team visited the RTGS centre at the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat in Amaravati on Saturday to assess the cyclone damage. RTGS Secretary Kathamneni Bhaskar and CEO Prakhar Jain welcomed the delegation. State officials presented details of precautionary measures, rescue and relief operations, and the extent of damage caused by the cyclone.

Early warnings helped minimise casualties

Officials said the government began issuing alerts six days before the cyclone's landfall. Through RTGS and the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), warnings reached 7.23 crore mobile users. Restrictions on public movement and vehicular traffic during landfall helped significantly reduce casualties.

For effective coordination, 3,455 control rooms were established at district and mandal levels, supported by 3,918 nodal officers. The government arranged 2,199 cyclone shelters across 20 districts and shifted 34,716 people to safety. Sixteen NDRF and 11 SDRF teams were deployed in 14 districts. Additionally, 1,355 ambulances were kept ready, while 3,012 pregnant women were moved to hospitals as a precaution. Authorities also prevented 30,043 fishing boats from entering the sea.

The Mana Mitra WhatsApp Governance platform allowed people to report emergencies and grievances directly to the government. Officials said more than 95 per cent of cyclone-related complaints received through the platform had been resolved.

Cyclone damage estimated at Rs 4,764 crore

Preliminary assessments put the total damage at Rs 4,764 crore. Crops belonging to 4.63 lakh farmers were damaged across 3.52 lakh hectares, while horticultural losses covered another 23,383 hectares. The cyclone also damaged 2,491 km of major roads and 7,382 houses. Twelve districts were affected, with Konaseema and West Godavari suffering the most. The power sector also sustained substantial damage.

Centre considers wider adoption

Das appreciated Mana Mitra as an effective and accessible grievance-redressal mechanism, particularly because even people with limited literacy could use WhatsApp. He said the team would recommend that the Centre encourage other states to adopt similar systems. He also assured that efforts would be made to secure adequate central assistance and recommend immediate relief for Andhra Pradesh.