MEA Launches mobile app for all its services

The Ministery of External Affairs (MEA), government of India, has embarked upon the mobile bandwagon with its mobile app for Andriod and Apple app stores. MEA is the first government department to launch a mobile app. 

The ministry officials unveiled the app to allow citizens to access services such as Passport, Consular Assistance and information about different programs. Pilgrims travelling to Haj or Mansorovar will also be able to get the required information on-the-go through this app.

The officials present at the launch were excited to go mobile. According to the offical spokesperson Syed Akharuddin, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson, MEA, "The MEA App will be a critical tool for citizens travelling abroad. In the event of loss of passport, the app will help them locate the nearest consular office and set up a meeting. Also, the app will help people to know different things about Ministry's porgrams. It would be easy to track PM and External Affairs Minister on their foreign visits. Not only, citizens can directly ask questions from the external affairs minister."

Developed by TCS and Silver Touch Technologies in less than six months, the app is available only for two platforms--Andriod and Apple. But the ministry is excited to augument it further to platfroms such as Windows.  The app collects information from 129 government and other websites to provide realtime information.

The app sounds like a new beginning. It can perhaps be hoped now that other departments will also join with their apps.