Mana Mitra: A Best-Practice Case Study in Technology-enabled Governance and Disaster Risk Reduction
Can familiar digital platforms be leveraged to make governance more responsive, participatory and effective, particularly during disasters and emergencies? Andhra Pradesh’s Mana Mitra offers an encouraging example.
Launched on 30 January 2025, Mana Mitra is a WhatsApp-based governance initiative of the Government of Andhra Pradesh (India), initially offering 161 citizen-centric services. During Cyclone Arnab (October 2026), the platform was activated as an emergency communication and grievance-reporting channel, enabling residents in affected areas to report waterlogging, fallen trees, power outages, shortages of drinking water, food and medicines, and seek emergency assistance.
Through special arrangements by the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS), grievances were monitored and routed to the concerned departmental officials for action. More than 1,500 grievances were received, of which officials reported that over 95% had been resolved. A seven-member Central Government team, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs, appreciated the initiative and called for the model’s adoption across States. Its subsequent adaptation for cyclone-related reporting during Murasu further illustrates its potential for application across emergency contexts.
What makes this a noteworthy governance model? It demonstrates how familiar digital interfaces can be connected with institutional infrastructure to facilitate citizen engagement, real-time information flows, interdepartmental coordination, grievance tracking and responsive last-mile service delivery. The underlying approach merits wider consideration, adaptation and replication, not only for disaster response but also for climate action, public-service delivery and everyday governance.
The larger opportunity lies in building interconnected, technology-enabled and driven governance ecosystems that bring together multi-hazard early-warning systems, citizen-led reporting, local administration, emergency services and response mechanisms. Such platforms can complement conventional disaster-management infrastructure by strengthening the flow of information between communities and public authorities, supporting more informed and timely action.
As we envision and replicate these pathways, universal accessibility must be built in from the outset, including accessible digital interfaces, multilingual and inclusive communication formats, assistive-technology compatibility and reasonable accommodation, particularly for persons with disabilities. Technology-enabled governance must be within everyone’s reach.
Let’s Build Forward Better, where We All Belong.
News in Highlights —
1. Central Team hails Andhra Pradesh’s Mana Mitra as Model for Cyclone Arnab Response [The Hindu | 31st October 2026]
“Seven-member Ministry of Home Affairs (Government of India) team appreciates WhatsApp Governance Platform during Damage Assessment; says it could be replicated across States.”
Get The Sangyan’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
The Mana Mitra WhatsApp Governance platform is India’s first WhatsApp-based mobile governance initiative, launched by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in January 2025. Activated as an emergency lifeline for reporting civic disruptions and weather distress during cyclones (such as Cyclone Arnab and Cyclone Murasu), routing thousands of real-time grievances directly to local Swarna Grama/Ward offices and the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS).
2. AP’s Mana Mitra WhatsApp platform emerges as lifeline during Cyclone Arnab [Times of India | 30th October 2026]
Andhra Pradesh govt’s Mana Mitra WhatsApp Governance platform has emerged as an important communication channel for people affected by Cyclone Arnab, helping them report problems and seek emergency assistance directly from the authorities. More than 1,500 grievances were received through the platform by Friday evening, of which over 95% were resolved by the concerned departments.
Alt Text (Visual/Image Description) —
A square infographic by The Sangyan, titled “Technology-Enabled Governance and Disaster Risk Reduction.” The poster has a light grey, textured background with a repeating geometric and leaf-inspired pattern. Its header features organisational logos (The Sangyan, Project Saralikarana, SDG Infinity Loop, and the Build Forward Better campaign).
The central cream-coloured panel displays the Government of Andhra Pradesh emblem alongside the green WhatsApp logo and the text “GoAP — Mana Mitra: Governance at Fingertips”, also written in Telugu. On the right is a QR code labelled “Scan To Start Your Chat”, with the WhatsApp contact number +91 9552300009.
Below the panel is the following textual content: “Mana Mitra, Andhra Pradesh’s WhatsApp-based governance platform, was launched in January 2025 with 161 citizen-centric services. During disasters, including Cyclone Arnab and Cyclone Murasu, it has been activated as an emergency communication channel for reporting civic disruptions and weather-related distress, with grievances routed to local Swarna Grama/Ward offices and the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) for coordinated action. During Cyclone Arnab (October 2026), over 1,500 grievances were received, of which officials reported that more than 95% had been resolved. A seven-member Ministry of Home Affairs (GoI) team assessing the cyclone response and damage assessment appreciated the initiative and highlighted its potential for replication across States. As States adapt such governance models and integrate them with early-warning and disaster-response systems, universal digital accessibility shall necessarily be built in, ensuring no one is left behind.”
The footer includes hashtags #BuildForwardBetter, #InclusiveDisasterRiskReduction and #LeaveNoOneBehind.
About the Author —
Adv. Abhishek Kumar, Founder and Curator of The Sangyan | द संज्ञान, Project Drishtant | प्रकल्प दृष्टान्त, Project Saralīkaraṇa | प्रकल्प सरलीकरण, and the ‘Build Forward Better’ Campaign
