Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma inaugurated the 29th National e-Governance Conference at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC) on Wednesday, officials said. Addressing the inaugural session, the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of leveraging technology for good governance since 2014 has transformed public service delivery across the country.
He noted that the Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile (JAM) trinity has eliminated the role of middlemen in welfare delivery, while Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has ensured that the benefits of government schemes are credited directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts.
He said that flagship initiatives such as Digital India and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) have significantly accelerated India's digital transformation. On the occasion, Chief Minister Sharma launched the Services Management with Artificial Intelligence and Real Time System (SMART) Project, the e-Mitra WhatsApp Service, and the Rajasthan Innovation Challenge.
He also unveiled a coffee-table book highlighting the state's digital governance initiatives. Under the new initiative, citizens can avail 27 government services by simply sending "Hi" to the WhatsApp number 946106270. The services include payment of electricity and water bills, applications for various certificates, and access to several other government facilities.
Once connected, they receive a menu of 27 e-Mitra services, enabling them to pay utility bills, apply for certificates, and access other government services directly through WhatsApp. According to the state government, the initiative is aimed at making public services more accessible and convenient while reducing the need for repeated visits to government offices and e-Mitra centres.
The event has drawn representatives from more than 80 Union Ministries and departments, 28 states, and 8 Union Territories. Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh is scheduled to attend the conference on Thursday.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated and toured an exhibition showcasing technology-enabled government services and innovative digital solutions. Rajasthan's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel and the State Information Technology and Communication Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore were also present.
Before the inaugural session, Chief Minister Sharma inaugurated an exhibition showcasing digital governance initiatives and emerging technologies. Following the inaugural session, the Chief Minister participated in a round-table discussion with industry representatives.
He said the Rajasthan government has introduced several progressive policies to promote data centres, artificial intelligence, and technology-driven innovation, and assured entrepreneurs of the state's full support in fostering a robust digital and innovation ecosystem.
The event was attended by Information Technology and Communication Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma, and Department of Information Technology and Communication Secretary, Ravi Kumar Surpur. A large number of entrepreneurs, technology experts, and startup representatives also participated in the conference.