In a landmark step towards participatory democracy and transparent governance, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on August 26 launched ‘Ama Shasana’ (Our Governance), an advanced citizen feedback mechanism, at the Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. The initiative has been described as a historic move to reinforce good governance in the state by ensuring direct citizen involvement in decision-making and service delivery.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Minister Majhi underlined that the essence of good governance lies with its citizens, noting that schemes and services can succeed only when people’s views and suggestions are incorporated into their design and implementation. He asserted that active citizen participation and regular feedback are the cornerstones of administrative efficiency and transparency.
ଆଜି 'ଆମ ଶାସନ' ଆରମ୍ଭ ହେବା ସହିତ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ନାଗରିକଙ୍କ ହାତପାହାନ୍ତାରେ ସରକାରୀ ସୁବିଧା, ଯୋଜନାର ଲାଭ ଓ ସେବାଗୁଡ଼ିକର ସୂଚନା ସିଧାସଳଖ ଭାବେ ପହଞ୍ଚିବ । ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ, ଶିକ୍ଷା, କୃଷି, ସାମାଜିକ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ଓ ବିଭିନ୍ନ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ସରକାରୀ ଯୋଜନା ଓ ସେଗୁଡ଼ିକର ଲାଭ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣିବା ଏବେ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଅଧିକ ସହଜ ହେବ। ନାଗରିକମାନେ… pic.twitter.com/ILAczrbnwy
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 26, 2025
The ‘Ama Shasana’ programme has been developed with extensive use of technology, enabling people to share their views and suggestions through both online and offline modes. Dedicated platforms have been created for this purpose, including a chatbot on the Odisha government website at amashasana.odisha.gov.in, a WhatsApp chatbot available at +91-7400221903, and a toll-free helpline number 14471. Beyond digital tools, the initiative also envisions direct engagement, as the Chief Minister, ministers, and senior officials will connect with citizens over phone calls to listen to their opinions firsthand.
Majhi said that the initiative would promote transparency, accountability, participation, and responsibility within governance, while also reducing the distance between the government and the people. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he remarked, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” and added that this philosophy has been embedded into the state government’s approach, where public service is being placed at the core of its democratic functioning.
ମାନ୍ୟବର ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ଲୋକସେବା ଭବନରେ ' ଆମ ଶାସନ ' କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମର ଶୁଭାରମ୍ଭ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଜନସେବାର ଏହି ନୂତନ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ଦ୍ୱାରା କ୍ଷେତ୍ର ପରିଦର୍ଶନ ସମୟରେ ସରକାରୀ ଅଧିକାରୀମାନେ ମୋବାଇଲ ଆପ୍ ଏବଂ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ, ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଓ ବିଭାଗୀୟ ଅଧିକାରୀମାନେ ଟେଲିଫୋନ ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ନାଗରିକମାନଙ୍କ ମତାମତ ନେବେ। ଏଥିସହ… pic.twitter.com/vbwBxNI6NN
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) August 26, 2025
The Chief Minister further emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s extensive use of technology to combat corruption at the national level has been a key source of inspiration. He highlighted how the trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile (JAM) has ensured direct benefit transfers to citizens, eliminating the scope for leakages and middlemen. Modi’s Digital India campaign, Majhi said, has played a decisive role in ensuring good governance, and Odisha too is committed to adopting this model with the belief that the government is essentially the servant of the people. He reiterated that active participation of citizens remains the real asset of governance and assured that the ‘Ama Shasana’ programme is a result of that philosophy. The Chief Minister pledged that people’s suggestions would be respected and necessary reforms would be introduced in the administrative system based on public feedback.
Majhi concluded his remarks by observing that democratic governance can only succeed when citizens are given the opportunity to voice their opinions and participate in decision-making. He said that ‘Ama Shasana’ is rooted in this very principle, one that not only brings transparency into the implementation of schemes but also strengthens public trust. He stressed that his government’s effort would remain to make every scheme and service in Odisha citizen-centric, transparent, and effective.
According to information shared during the launch, the Odisha government currently provides 428 online services across 32 departments. In the first phase, the ‘Ama Shasana’ feedback mechanism has been integrated with 13 major services across eight departments. These services include the Antyodaya Housing Scheme under the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, the Madhu Babu Pension Scheme under the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department, the Subhadra Yojana under the Women and Child Development Department, the Shaheed Madho Singh Pocket Money Scheme under the ST and SC Development Department, the ShriAnna Scheme and the Chief Minister Krushak Yojana under the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, the Paddy Procurement Scheme under the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, and inpatient and outpatient services along with the Ayushman Bayobandana Yojana under the Health and Family Welfare Department. Additionally, services under the Home Department include FIR registration, issuance of fire safety certificates, and grievance redressal.
During the program, the Chief Minister interacted directly with several beneficiaries of these welfare schemes. Among them was Mrs. Munge Dharua, a beneficiary of the Antyodaya Housing Scheme from Kalahandi district, who expressed satisfaction at receiving timely benefits. Fakir Das, an elderly pensioner from Jagatsinghpur district under the Madhu Babu Pension Scheme, shared that accessing his pension had been smooth and problem-free. Jyotsna Rani Dehuri, a Class X student from Kandhamal who benefits from the Shaheed Madho Singh Pocket Money Scheme, stated that the support had been crucial in continuing her education. Girish Kumar Singhdeo from Balangir district, a beneficiary of the Ayushman Bayobandana Yojana, praised the efficiency of hospital services under the scheme. All beneficiaries echoed the sentiment that they were receiving benefits without obstacles, highlighting the cooperation of government officers at every step to ensure the timely delivery of services.
Health and Family Welfare Minister and Electronics and IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling described ‘Ama Shasana’ as a major step toward creating a truly people-centric government. He explained that through the portal, citizen feedback will be systematically recorded and treated with the utmost respect. Mahaling also emphasised that such innovations were made possible by the foundation laid by Prime Minister Modi’s Digital India campaign, which has transformed governance across the country.
The event was attended by several key dignitaries, including Deputy Chief Minister K. V. Singhdeo, Industries and Skill Development and Vocational Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, Chief Administrative Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary of the IT Department Vishal Dev, and Health Secretary Ashwathi S., along with many senior officials. At the beginning of the program, Dr. Pradeep Raut, Chief Executive Officer of the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC), presented the blueprint of ‘Ama Shasana’ and explained how the feedback mechanism would act as a bridge between citizens and the government, ensuring better communication, accountability, and delivery of services.
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