MEA gets interactive with one-stop-shop mobile app

Now, you can access India's external affairs ministry website, its passport services, get to know your Haj status, or even pose a question on foreign policy to the minister -- thanks to a smartphone app - MEAIndia - launched here Monday.

"It's a one-stop-shop to provide you all you need to know," said outgoing Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai after inaugurating the app at an event here. He retires July 31.

Mathai said through the app the ministry had tried to "adapt and adopt" to the needs of communication today.

The ministry website, which last year took on a new look, is on course to get a million visitors in the first year of its launch, said Mathai.

The ministry's common digital Identity "is falling in place", with all the 120 Indian missions adopting a similar template. While 50 missions have adopted the new template and made the transition, the others are set to do so by 2014, he said.

The ministry is also reaching out across the country in different language media. Besides providing information in Hindi, the ministry is now providing information in Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil and Urdu. Press releases in Assamese and Telugu are soon to begin, Mathai said.

"We are also poised to take the audio route and have agreed with Prasar Bharati to tie up for a regular programme on FM Radio of India's foreign relations,' he said.

"The idea behind encapsulating all these changes to you today is indicate that we are making every effort in communicating India's foreign policy to the public at large," he added.

Earlier, ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said deciding to go in for the interactive app was a "leap of faith" as no other government department has ventured to do it.

The endeavor was begun six months ago. The app is supported by ios and android operating systems.

Through the app, people can get help with passport, visa, and if abroad get consular assistance, or even share their views and join the larger conversation on India's foreign policy.

Users can also find out how to undertake the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and Haj Pilgrimage. The app will provide the latest Haj News and provide details of flights, accommodation and about the tour operator.

Users can also download and watch pictures and documentaries on India, share and contribute their own pictures and suggestions or even follow the prime minister on his visits abroad.

You can also ask External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid "on the go, anytime, anywhere and get answers to your queries directly from him on foreign policy issues that matter to you most".

It also has another interactive feature, "mobile democracy", through which users can post their queries, or take a quiz on India's foreign relations, win exciting prizes or contribute a question. The first 100 winners will each get e vouchers worth Rs.1,000 redeemable on www.landmarkonthenet.com.