New app for distressed Indian workers

While there are mobile applications for almost everything under the sun, there is a new initiative to launch an app to help Indian blue-collar workers in Oman.

For the thousands of Indian expatriate workers in the region, a new mobile application in multiple Indian languages will be launched soon, starting with the first leg of the project launch in Oman followed by other GCC countries.

The non-commercial app, named ‘MigCall’, is designed to help those Indian workers in the GCC countries who are in distress, and who cannot speak the official languages or English. The app can be downloaded from Google Play Store.

It will be first launched in Oman followed by other Gulf Countries where thousands of Indian blue-collar workers work and live.

“In the first phase, the app will have five Oman-based and five India-based helpline numbers which the migrant workers can access offline on any basic Android phone,” said Rejimon Kuttappan, an Indian migrants rights worker.

The Oman-based numbers will include the Indian embassy’s 24|7 helpline number which will be attended by multi-lingual dedicated officials in addition to social workers numbers in Muscat. The app can be extended to other countries where similar help numbers can be accessed through the mobile application.

The app’s registration and description will be available in English, Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali languages.

“In close cooperation with the Indian embassy in Muscat, the app will be launched soon. This app will help Indians in Oman to reach out the Indian embassy officials, Oman-based social organisations, the Indian emigration offices, India-based social organisations and other agencies involved in aiding migrants,” Jose Chacko, a Muscat-based Indian businessman said.

The app will also have quick icons for sending emails to the Indian embassy, social organisations and emigration offices in India.

“The idea to develop such an app came up after I found that majority of the Indians in Oman are clueless about how to approach or contact Indian embassy or social organisations when they are in distress. Even if we distribute booklets containing the telephone numbers, they misplace it. So, I thought of creating an app which will provide them help on their fingertips,” said Rejimon, who is also a journalist.

“When discussed with the Indian embassy, they welcomed the move and have assured all support,” he added.

The app, developed by Cocoalabs, an India-based software company, is supported by Migrant Forum in Asia – a Manila-based organisation which stands up for the rights of migrants – and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). “The app will be widened to other expatriate communities in Oman and to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries later on,” Rejimon said.
 

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