Getting Started — Language, Registration & Login
When you first open Sampark Connect, the app walks you through a short welcome: you pick the language you're most comfortable reading (Marathi, Hindi or English), see a couple of quick intro screens, and then either create your account or sign in. Everything is done with your mobile number and a one-time password (OTP) sent by SMS — there is no password to remember. Once you're signed in, the app remembers you, so next time it opens straight to the home screen.
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Open the app and wait for the welcome screen
When you tap the Sampark Connect icon, you first see the app's logo on a plain background for a second or two. If you have never signed in, the app then moves on its own to the welcome (onboarding) screens. If you have signed in before, it takes you straight to the home screen and you can skip the rest of these steps.
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Choose your language
The first welcome screen shows a globe symbol and three choices, stacked top to bottom: मराठी (Marathi), हिंदी (Hindi) and English. Each choice shows the language in its own script with the English name below. Tap the one you want. A tick mark appears on it, and the app automatically moves to the next screen. From this point on, all the text in the app is shown in the language you picked. You cannot swipe past this screen — you must tap a language to continue.
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Read the two intro screens
Next you see two short information screens: one about reporting civic problems quickly, and one about finding government schemes and help. Tap the 'Next' button at the bottom to move forward. If you'd rather go straight ahead, tap 'Skip'. On the final intro screen the button reads 'Get Started' — tap it to reach the sign-in screen.
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On the sign-in screen, choose to create an account
You arrive at the 'Sign In' screen, which has a shield symbol at the top. If this is your first time, look at the bottom for the line 'Don't have an account?' and tap 'Create account' next to it. This opens the registration form. (If you already have an account, stay on this screen — see the 'Signing back in' steps below.)
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Fill in your registration details
On the registration form, fill the boxes from top to bottom: Full name (you can type, or tap the small microphone to speak it); Mobile number (your 10-digit phone number — this is where your OTP will be sent); Date of Birth (tap to open a calendar and pick your birth date — your age is shown automatically); Gender (choose Male, Female or Other); Address (type or use the microphone). Your town/nagarpalika is already fixed and shown with a small lock symbol — you don't need to change it. Then choose your Prabhag (ward) from the drop-down list. Voter ID and Referral code are optional — fill them only if you have them.
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Tick the two confirmation boxes
Near the bottom, tick the box confirming your voter details are correct, and tick the box agreeing to the terms. Both boxes must be ticked before you can continue.
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Tap 'Send OTP' and enter the code
Tap the 'Send OTP' button at the bottom. The app sends a one-time password by SMS to the mobile number you typed. An OTP box appears; type the code from the SMS. If you entered the wrong number, tap 'Edit details' to go back and fix it without losing what you typed. If the code doesn't arrive, wait for the countdown to finish and tap 'Resend OTP'.
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Verify and finish creating your account
Once you've typed the OTP, tap 'Verify & Create Account'. If the code is correct, your account is created and you're taken straight into the app's home screen. You're now registered and signed in.
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Signing back in later
If you already have an account, on the 'Sign In' screen type your registered 10-digit mobile number and tap 'Send OTP'. An OTP is sent to your phone by SMS. Type the code into the OTP box and tap 'Verify & Sign In' to enter the app. Tap 'Change number' if you typed the wrong phone, or 'Resend OTP' (after the short countdown) if the code doesn't arrive.
What you can do
- Use the same mobile number every time — it's how the app finds your account and sends your login code.
- Keep your phone nearby when registering or signing in, because the OTP code arrives by SMS and you'll need to type it in.
- If the code doesn't come immediately, wait a few seconds — the 'Resend OTP' button becomes available after a short countdown.
- Voter ID and Referral code are optional; you can leave them blank if you don't have them.
- Pick the correct Prabhag (ward) — it decides which local leaders and officers your complaints and contacts are linked to.
- You can pick a different language later; your first choice is only a starting point and is saved for next time.
- Your town/nagarpalika is fixed by the app (shown with a lock) — you don't need to, and can't, change it during registration.
Home Screen & Getting Around
The Home screen is the first thing you see when you open Sampark Connect. It greets you by name, shows your prabhag (ward), and gives you one-tap shortcuts to everything you need: reporting a problem, talking to the Bhau voice helper, checking welfare schemes, reading local updates, and tracking complaints you have already filed. A bar along the bottom of the screen lets you jump between the main sections at any time, and a bell at the top opens your notifications inbox.
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Start at the greeting bar (top of Home)
The orange band at the very top shows your first name and a friendly greeting, your profile photo (or your initials if you have not added a photo), and your prabhag/ward name next to a small location pin. This confirms you are signed in as yourself and in the right area.
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Open your notifications with the bell
Tap the bell icon in the top-right corner of the orange band. If there is a small dot on the bell, you have unread updates waiting. This opens your Notifications inbox.
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Talk to Bhau, the voice helper
Just below the greeting is a green card with a microphone. Tap it to open Bhau, the in-app assistant you can ask questions to. The same helper is always reachable from the glowing microphone button in the centre of the bottom bar.
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Report a problem
Tap the large red 'Report' card in the Quick Services area to start filing a civic complaint (for example a water, road, or garbage issue). This is the main action most people come to the app for.
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Use the quick shortcut tiles
Under the report card are smaller tiles: Schemes (welfare schemes), a Help/assistance tile, and Emergency, followed by tiles for Updates, Events, Posters, and Help & FAQ. Tap any tile to jump straight to that section.
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Check the progress of your complaints
Scroll down to the complaint status area. Three counters show how many of your complaints Need Action, are In Progress, and are Resolved. Tap a counter to see that group, tap 'View all' to see every complaint, or tap a recent complaint card to open its full details.
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Read the latest local update
Near the bottom of Home, the 'Local Update' card shows the newest announcement from your municipality. Tap it (or 'See more') to read all announcements.
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Move between sections using the bottom bar
The bar fixed at the bottom has Home, Complaints, the Bhau microphone (centre), Schemes, and Profile. Tap any one to switch. The section you are currently in is highlighted. Tapping the section you are already in takes you back to the top of it.
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Pull down to refresh
On the Home screen (and in Notifications), drag the screen downward and release to reload the latest information from the server.
What you can do
- The small dot on the bell (and the orange dots inside the notifications list) simply mean 'unread' — open a notification, or use 'Mark all read', to clear them.
- The 'Resolved in your area' picture strip moves by itself; you do not need to swipe it. You can still swipe it manually if you want to look back.
- The three complaint counters are shortcuts — tap 'Needs Action' or 'In Progress' to see complaints still being worked on, and 'Resolved' to see finished ones.
- If a screen looks out of date, pull it down and let go to refresh.
- Tapping the section you are already on in the bottom bar scrolls you back to its start — handy if you have scrolled far down.
- The Bhau microphone is available from two places: the green card on Home and the round button in the middle of the bottom bar.
- If notifications fail to load, a 'Try again' button appears — tap it once your internet is back.
Civic Complaints — File & Track
This is the heart of the app: report a local civic problem (a pothole, water leak, uncollected garbage, broken street light, and so on) to your Nagarpalika, then follow it all the way to resolution. You attach a photo and pin the exact spot so officials know where to go, watch each stage on a live progress timeline, and rate the work once it's fixed.
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Open the new-complaint form
Go to the My Complaints screen and tap the round orange '+' button in the bottom-right corner. This opens the 'File a Complaint' form.
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Choose the type of problem
Under 'The Issue', you'll see a grid of categories set up by your municipality (for example Roads, Water, Garbage, Street Lights, Health). Tap the one that fits — the selected tile turns orange. Picking a category is required.
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Enter the address
In the Address box, type where the problem is (a landmark, road or area name). If you'd rather speak than type, tap the small microphone icon in the box and say it aloud. You need to enter at least a few words.
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Pin the exact spot on the map
Tap the map card to open the full-screen map. Drag the map so the red pin sits right on the problem spot, or tap 'Use my location' to jump to where you are standing (allow location access if asked). Tap 'Confirm'. The card then shows a small map with your pin and its coordinates — tap it again anytime to change the spot. A pin is required.
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Add a photo
Tap the photo box, then choose 'Camera' to take a fresh picture or 'Gallery' to pick one you already have. The photo appears with a small 'X' to remove it and a 'Replace' button to swap it. A photo is required — it's the proof officials use to see the problem.
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Describe the problem
In the Description box, explain the issue in a sentence or two (up to 500 characters). You can tap the microphone to dictate it instead of typing. A short description of at least a few words is required.
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Submit the complaint
Tap the 'Submit' button at the bottom. The app first uploads your photo (the button reads 'Uploading photo…') and then files the complaint ('Submitting…'). If anything is missing, a red message tells you exactly what to fix.
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Note your complaint number
A green success screen with a tick confirms your complaint is filed and shows its reference number (like #CMP-…). From here tap 'Track Status' to watch its progress right away, or 'Home' to return to the home screen.
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See all your complaints
Open 'My Complaints' to view every report you've filed, newest first. Use the 'All', 'Pending' and 'Resolved' tabs at the top to filter them (each tab shows a count). Pull the list down to refresh it. Every card shows the current status, the date, the location and the complaint number.
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Follow the progress timeline
Tap any complaint to open its tracker. It shows the current status, your photo, and a step-by-step timeline — Reported, Assigned, In Progress, Resolved — with the time each stage happened and any note from the official. If an official is handling it, you'll also see their name, and a deadline note if one has been set.
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Edit while it's still pending
As long as no official has picked up your complaint yet, an 'Edit' button lets you change the category, address, map pin, photo or description. Once someone starts working on it, editing locks — you'll see a notice — but you can still follow its progress.
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Rate the resolution once it's fixed
When a complaint is marked 'Resolved', open it and tap 'Rate this resolution'. Choose 1 to 5 stars, add an optional comment (you can dictate it), and tap Submit. If you've already rated it, your stars and comment are pre-filled so you can update them.
What you can do
- To file a complaint you must fill in everything: pick a category, enter an address, drop a map pin, add a photo, and write a short description. If you miss one, the Submit button shows a red message telling you what's needed.
- Tap the microphone icons to speak your address, description or feedback instead of typing.
- Write down or remember your complaint number (#CMP-…) so you can find and refer to it later.
- You can only change a complaint before an official picks it up. After that it locks, but you can still watch its progress on the timeline.
- The tracker doesn't show the officer's phone number — for any follow-up, reach out to your Prabhag (ward) leader.
- Pull down on the complaints list or a complaint's tracker to refresh and see the latest status.
- Tap any photo to view it full-screen and pinch to zoom in.
Government Schemes & Requesting Help
This part of the app is your window into government and welfare schemes (like health, housing, farmer, women, education and employment programmes). You can browse and search the schemes your municipality has listed, open any scheme to read who it is for and what papers you need, go to the official government website to apply, and — if you get stuck — ask your local ward (prabhag) leader's office for help. There is also a separate "Request Assistance" screen where you can ask your ward leader for non-complaint help such as medical bills, school fees or document work.
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Open the Government Schemes list
From the app, go to Government Schemes. You will see a search box at the top, a row of category buttons, and a card for each scheme. Pull the screen down to refresh if you want the latest list. If nothing loads, a friendly message with a 'Retry' button appears so you can try again.
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Find the scheme you want
Type a keyword in the search box (it matches the scheme name, its description, and its tags), or tap one of the category buttons across the top such as Health, Housing or Farmer. Tap 'All Schemes' to clear the filter and see everything again. If you prefer speaking to typing, tap the small microphone in the search box and say the word.
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Read the short card, then open full details
Each scheme card shows a colour icon, a few tags, the scheme name and a short description. Tap 'View Details' to open the full page. There you will see which government the scheme belongs to, whether it is Active, an 'About this scheme' explanation, a yellow 'Who can apply' eligibility list, and a checklist of documents you need to keep ready.
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Apply on the official government website (if a link is shown)
If the scheme can be applied for online, you will see the website name and an 'Apply on Portal' button on both the card and the details page. Tapping it opens the official government website in your phone's browser, outside the app, where you complete the actual application.
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Ask for help if you are stuck
If you do not understand the scheme or cannot apply on your own, tap 'Need Help?' on the card or on the details page. A small panel slides up showing the scheme name.
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Tell them what the problem is
In that panel, pick the button that best matches your problem — for example 'I don't understand', 'Missing documents', 'Portal not working', 'Aadhaar linking', or 'Other'. You can also type a note (up to 400 letters) to explain more, or dictate it using the microphone. The note is optional.
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Send the request
Tap 'Send'. Your request is passed to your local ward leader's office, who can follow up with you. A confirmation message appears, the panel closes, and the 'Need Help?' button changes to 'Help requested' so you know it went through. It stays that way until your request is closed.
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Track your requests later
Tap the clipboard icon at the top-right of the Schemes list to open 'My Applications'. Each request shows the scheme name, your note, a request number, and a colour status label — Submitted, Pending, Approved or Rejected. Once a request is Approved or Rejected, you are free to ask for help on that same scheme again.
What you can do
- The 'Apply on Portal' button opens an outside government website in your browser — the actual application is filled in there, not inside this app.
- After you send a 'Need Help?' request, the button shows 'Help requested' and cannot be tapped again until that request is closed, so you will not accidentally send it twice. Once it is Approved or Rejected you can ask again.
- Choosing the right problem button (like 'Missing documents' or 'Portal not working') helps the ward leader's office understand your situation faster.
- Use the microphone icons if typing in Marathi, Hindi or English is difficult — you can simply speak.
- Tap the clipboard icon at the top-right of the Schemes list any time to check the status of requests you have already sent.
- For the separate 'Request Assistance' screen, your ward must be set on your profile; if it is not, the app will tell you before it sends. Also write at least a few words of description so it can be submitted.
- The 'Who can apply' and 'Documents needed' sections only appear when that information has been added for a scheme, so some schemes may show fewer sections than others.
Festival Posters, Greetings & Profile Photos
The Poster Studio lets you make ready-to-post festival and event greetings, personalise them with your own photo, name and even your local leaders, and share them straight to WhatsApp or save them to your phone. It also gives you fresh daily and festival greetings picked for today, a special birthday wish card, and a viewer for your town's official Development Plan (zoning map).
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Open the Poster Studio
From the app, open Posters. It opens on the Greetings tab, showing today's picks — good-morning/good-evening wishes, the weekday, and any festival or event happening today. Each one is a full-size card already personalised with your saved design.
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Choose Greetings or Explore
Use the two pills at the top to switch. Greetings shows today's ready-made picks. Explore lets you browse every festival and event by category — tap a coloured category chip (or All) to filter, and you'll see designs grouped into sections with a small festival date shown on each.
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Pick a design
In Explore, tap a festival or event card to open it. You then see every poster design for that occasion, one per row, each already showing your saved personalisation with two buttons underneath.
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Send as-is, or personalise first
Tap Share Now to send the design straight away with your saved photo and name already on it. Tap Personalise to open the editor and adjust it before sharing.
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Adjust your photo and name in the editor
The 'Personalise' editor shows the poster with your photo in the bottom-left and your name beside it. Tap Photo to take a new picture or choose one from your gallery. Tap Text to add a line of your own. Tap Leaders to add up to 6 leaders from the ready-made list (or Upload your own picture).
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Move, resize and style each item
Tap any photo, name or text to select it, then drag to move, pinch to resize or rotate. A slider appears to fine-tune the size; for text you also get a colour slider. Tap the small X on a selected photo to remove it, or tap an empty part of the poster to deselect.
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Save or Share the finished poster
Use the download icon (top-right) to save a high-quality copy to your phone's gallery, or the share icon to open your phone's share sheet and post it to WhatsApp, Telegram and more. The first time you save, allow the photo permission when asked.
What you can do
- Today's Greetings picks stay the same for the rest of the day — pulling down to refresh won't change them until the next part of the day or the next festival.
- In the editor, a banner reminds you that going back discards your current edits — but your saved design is remembered and comes back next time you open a poster.
- The first time you save a poster or card, your phone will ask for permission to access photos; allow it so the image can be added to your gallery.
- You can put up to 6 leaders on one poster; the counter at the top of the Select Leader sheet shows how many you've added.
- If a poster or map doesn't load, pull down to refresh, or tap Retry on the error screen.
- The birthday card fills in your ward leader and prabhag automatically from your account — no need to type anything.
- 'DP' here means your town's official Development Plan (the zoning map), not a display photo; use the download button to open the full file when it's a PDF.
Events, Announcements, Emergency Directory & FAQ
These four screens keep you informed about civic life in your town. See what local events and programmes are happening on a calendar, read official notices and messages from the municipality, find and instantly call emergency helplines like police and ambulance, and get answers to common questions with a way to email support if you're still stuck.
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Open the Events calendar and pick a date
On the Events screen you'll see the current month at the top. Use the left (◀) and right (▶) arrows beside the month name to move to another month. Below that is a row of day boxes you can scroll left and right; each box shows the weekday and date. A small dot under a date means there is at least one event that day. Tap any date to select it.
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View the events for that day
Below the calendar, the app shows the events for the date you tapped, labelled 'Today', 'Tomorrow', 'Yesterday' or the date. Each event appears as a card with an orange header, a 'Public Event' tag, the date, the event's name, its time, its location, and who organised it. If there are no events, you'll see a friendly 'no events' message for that day.
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See full event details
Tap an event card. A panel slides up from the bottom with the full details — title, time, location, the organiser's name, and a longer description if one was added. You can drag the panel up to read more, and swipe it down to close it.
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Share an event with others
On any event card, tap the share icon (the little arrow icon next to the title). The event's details — name, date and time, location, organiser and description — are copied to your phone's clipboard, and a small message confirms it. You can then paste it into WhatsApp, SMS or any other app to share it with family or neighbours.
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Read official announcements
Open the Announcements screen to see notices from the municipality, newest first. Each card shows a 'Notice' tag, the date it was posted, a heading, a short preview of the message, and who posted it. Tap a card (or the 'Read more' link) to open the full notice in a panel that slides up from the bottom.
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View an announcement's picture full-screen
If a notice includes an image, it appears at the top of the card and inside the full notice. Tap the image to open it full-screen, where you can pinch to zoom in and drag to move around for a closer look. Tap the close (X) button in the corner to go back.
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Call an emergency helpline
Open the Emergency Directory. At the very top is a large red SOS box — tap its 'Call 112' button to instantly dial 112, the all-in-one national emergency number. Below it, helpline numbers are grouped by type (Police, Medical, Fire & Disaster, Women, Child, Senior Citizens, Cyber, and more). Tap any contact card, or its green call button, and your phone's dialer opens with that number ready to call.
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Find answers in Help & FAQ
Open the Help & FAQ screen to see common questions, grouped under headings. Tap any question to expand it and read the answer; tap it again to collapse it. If you can't find what you need, scroll to the green support box at the bottom and tap the email address to open your mail app with a support request ready to send.
What you can do
- A dot under a date on the Events calendar means something is happening that day — tap the date to see what.
- Only public events meant for residents appear in the calendar; a leader's private diary items are never shown.
- In an emergency, use the red 'Call 112' button at the top — 112 connects you to police, fire and ambulance all in one number.
- Within each emergency category, the short national helpline numbers are listed first so the most-used numbers are quickest to find.
- On the Help & FAQ screen, tap a question to open its answer and tap again to close it — you don't have to scroll past answers you don't need.
- If a screen shows a 'could not load' message, check your internet connection and tap Retry, or pull down from the top to refresh.
Bhau AI Assistant, Voice Calls & Your Profile
This part of the app has three helpful tools. Bhau is your friendly AI civic assistant — you can type or speak to it in Marathi, Hindi or English and ask about welfare schemes, your complaints, your ward leaders and local information. Voice updates let Sampark Connect reach you with a short spoken message that arrives like a phone call, often carrying news about a complaint you filed. And your Profile screen shows your registration details and lets you change your photo, switch the app language, adjust the text size, and sign out.
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Open Bhau, the assistant
Tap Bhau from the app. A dark strip at the top shows your town's name with a small green 'online' dot, so you know the assistant is ready.
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Accept the one-time privacy notice
The very first time you open Bhau, a short message explains that what you ask is shared with the AI service so it can answer you. You can tap the underlined link to read the full Privacy Policy. Tap Agree to continue. If you tap Decline, the screen simply closes and nothing you typed is ever sent.
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Choose your language
Just under the header is a row with मराठी, हिंदी and English. Tap the one you prefer, and Bhau will reply in that language. You can change it any time during the chat.
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Type your question
Type into the box at the bottom — for example, 'Which schemes are there for senior citizens?' or 'Who is my ward leader?' — and tap the orange send arrow. When you first open Bhau it may take a moment to get ready; the box stays quiet until it is.
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Or ask by voice instead
Tap the orange microphone button on the right. A listening screen appears — speak your question, then tap Stop & Send. If you change your mind, tap Cancel.
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Read or listen to Bhau's reply
Bhau's answer appears in a white bubble on the left, with your own messages on the right. Tap the small play button under Bhau's answer to hear it read aloud, and tap again to stop.
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Use the buttons Bhau offers
Below some answers Bhau shows a green button — such as Call (which opens your phone dialler for a number Bhau found), Report a complaint, or Get help. Tapping it opens the dialler or the matching form already filled in with the details you mentioned. You always check everything and tap Submit or Call yourself — Bhau never sends anything on its own.
What you can do
- Your name, phone number, age, address and other details on the Profile screen are shown for reference only — they can't be edited on this screen. Only your profile photo, app language and text size can be changed here.
- Bhau's language (the button row inside the chat) is separate from the app's language in Profile — you can set them differently if you like.
- Bhau never files a complaint or makes a call by itself. It only opens the form or the dialler with the details filled in; you always check them and tap Submit or Call.
- When a voice update plays, turn up your phone's media volume to hear it clearly — it plays through the loudspeaker. It also stops on its own once the message finishes.
- If you decline the one-time privacy notice, Bhau closes right away and nothing you typed is shared.
- On the Profile screen, pull down to refresh and reload your latest details.