With efficient mobile apps, NRI haj volunteers grab attention

MECCA: As the haj season of 1437 Hijra (2016 AD) is reaching its end in less than a week's time, almost all the foreign pilgrims have left Saudi Arabia. For many, one memory would for sure be the dedicated services delivered by Indian expatriate haj volunteers.
NRI haj volunteers who are working in Mecca, Medina, Jeddah and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia have played an admirable role during every haj season to make Indian pilgrims’ stay less tedious by extending various kinds of services they are in need of, especially sick and old pilgrims.Hundreds of Indians are actively involved round the clock in pilgrim services under different banners like Risala Study Circle Haj Cell, KMCC Haj Cell, Jeddah Haj Welfare Forum, Kerala Relief Wing, among whom Indian Fraternity Forum (IFF) continues to be at the leading edge for about a decade, not only with their outstanding performance and dedicated and timely services which benefits thousands of pilgrims who came from all around the globe but also their innovations year by year, attending to the needs of pilgrims.
IFF services to Indian Haj Pilgrims starts even before pilgrims leave India, in form of awareness sessions at various locations in different Indian states, in order to educate them on performing the rituals of haj in a safe and healthy environment and publishing the haj guide.
Upon the pilgrims' arrival in Mecca and Medina, volunteers help them identify and carry their luggage and reach their accommodation. This service continues round the clock till they leave the country after haj.
Year by year Indian expatriate Haj volunteers are exploring new horizons for their services to address the needs of the pilgrims which gets them appreciation, not only from Indian haj mission in Saudi, but also from different Saudi officials and agencies.
Considering the widespread internet access, India Fraternity Forum had developed an app during last year's haj (Mina Tent Locator app) which easily and precisely guided thousands of pilgrims to their tents in Mina without hurdles. This year, map of Mina included tent locations for pilgrims under the Mutawwif organizations of South Asian countries, South East Asian countries, African Non-Arab countries and Turkey and European countries, thus serving pilgrims irrespective of their colour, language or nationality.
Taking yet another leap to serve haj pilgrims, IFF has launched an app, "Haj Navigator". This app is supported by Google maps and based on data of roads and streets of Mina, it provides Indian pilgrims the details of accommodation, hotels, hospitals and medical facilities in Mecca and Aziziyah. "Haj Navigator" guides thousands of pilgrims to their location.
These IFF apps, developed by one of its volunteers Muhammed Mukhthar, are quite simple and easy to use and require internet connectivity only when downloaded for the first time.
There are many encouraging comments by Saudi and other nations' official haj agencies appreciating the services of Indian expatiates to the pilgrims. One of the IFF volunteers from Jharkhand, Neyazul Haq, had lost his life during the rescue operation in haj tragedy of 2015.