Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, 29 June directed senior officials to simplify and streamline government service delivery, making it more accessible to ordinary citizens across the state. The review was conducted at the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) Centre at the Secretariat in Amaravati.

Key Directives from the Chief Minister

Officials informed Naidu that the government has already initiated steps to simplify procedures, beginning with 11 categories of services. The Chief Minister directed that these efforts be expanded further, with particular emphasis on strengthening the Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS). He called for enabling citizens to lodge complaints online and through the Mana Mitra WhatsApp platform, and specifically instructed officials to ensure that voice messages sent through the platform are also accepted.

When officials flagged that nearly 3,000 locations across Andhra Pradesh currently face mobile connectivity challenges, Naidu directed that these issues be resolved within three months.

Navachethana Childhood Screening Programme

Officials presented details of the 'Navachethana' early childhood development screening programme, implemented by the Department of Women and Child Welfare. The programme assesses children's physical and mental development; so far, 33,949 children have been screened across the state. In addition to children attending Anganwadi centres, teams are conducting household visits. A pilot project is also being planned to ensure appropriate follow-up actions after screening.

Field Visits Mandated for Senior Officers

Officials confirmed that a circular has been issued making field visits mandatory for senior government officers. Under the directive, Secretaries will spend three days per month on field visits, Heads of Departments will spend six days, and District Collectors will spend eight days. The Chief Minister instructed officials to identify areas facing the most critical problems and provide immediate solutions.

CII Global Leadership Centre and AI in Governance

Naidu was accompanied at the RTGS Centre by Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), along with other CII representatives. IT Secretary Katamneni Bhaskar briefed the delegation on the functioning of the RTGS, highlighting the use of Artificial Intelligence and other technologies in governance, and presented case studies on RTGS response during natural disasters. The Chief Minister urged CII representatives to expedite the establishment of a CII Global Leadership Centre in Andhra Pradesh.

Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad and Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta also participated in the meeting. The review signals a renewed push by the Naidu administration to close the gap between policy intent and on-ground service delivery — a challenge that has historically plagued governance in the state.