Kozhikode: The free mobile app, ‘Thalayatukar,’ has been creating ripples in the sleepy high range village of Thalayad, which comes under Panangad gram panchayat.
The app, launched a couple of months back, features 16 sections which include the contact numbers of around 100 village labourers, 67 blood donors, autorickshaws, taxis, hospitals, bus, train timings and what not.
Interestingly, the labour section contains several sub-sections like concrete work, coconut climbing, well- digging, bush-clearing, blacksmith, watch repair etc.
“The app has increased the earnings of daily wage labourers in our village,” claims Mr P.A. Muhammed Iqbal, the software developer and the brain behind the app. A BTech graduate, Iqbal developed it to strengthen his biodata as every employer had been asking for a self-designed app during interviews.
“But it changed the whole picture of my village. The Thalayad unit of Muslim Students’ Federation (MSF) has launched the app with the active support of friends, K. Mehroof and M. Niyas,” he said.
As Thalayad has a few buses, the timing is important for the villagers. Besides, the ‘information’ section provides the latest updates on death, marriages etc.
“After the invention of the app, I have been getting more calls,” said Rajesh, an autorickshaw driver. The Gulf expats have been making the maximum use of the app, as it helps them call directly, instead of their women scouting for labourers. Many are mulling to develop a similar app in their villages too.
