File photo used for representation only.
Doha, Qatar: To serve worshippers in a better way, the Engineering Affairs Department of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has launched an app which helps supervisors monitor mosques’ cleaning operations conducted by cleaning companies.
“The observer will visit a mosque holding his iPad with the app to register the remarks and violations against the cleaning companies directly,” said Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs for Dawah and Mosque Affairs, Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwari.
Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of the Ministry yesterday, he said violations recorded by the observer will reach the officials and department concerned immediately to take action against the erring companies on time, forcing them to adhere to contact clauses.
“The app ‘Khidmat Al Masajid’ (mosques services) will provide reports and data of daily operation of mosques conducted by cleaning companies working with the Ministry,” said Al Kuwari.
He said Qatar has over 2,300 mosques across the country, which receive hundreds of thousands of worshipers five times daily.
“A total of 25 private cleaning companies are operating to maintain hygiene in mosques. The Ministry has assigned 45 supervisors to monitor the cleaning operations of these companies,” said Al Kuwari. The introduction of app is part of the efforts to upgrade the cleaning services for mosques and training supervisors to handle electronic monitoring system to ease the monitoring of cleaning operation.
“The Ministry supervisors can access the data to assess the performances of the companies and record the violation if found to ensure their compliance with the provisions of the contract. The app will record all daily field visits to inspect the cleaning work at mosques, and monitoring cleaning companies on an ongoing basis,” said Al Kuwari.
Assistant Undersecretary for Dawah and Mosque Affairs, Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwari (centre) and Director of Engineering Affairs Department, Muhammad Youssef Al Ibrahim (right) at the press conference yesterday. PIC: RAJAN VADAKKEMURIYIL
In this phase, he said, the app targets supervisors and officials of the department concerned.
More services will be added to the app when worshipers can access to register their remarks related to the mosques or provide cleaning materials for mosques.
To a question about deploying robots in mosque cleaning operation, Al Kuwari said that the Ministry hired cleaning companies for the operations, if they could add robots in the service for suitable prices it would be welcomed.
Director of Engineering Affairs Department, Muhammad Youssef Al Ibrahim said that the app aims to develop the methods used to monitor the cleaning of mosques on a daily basis, which contributes to improving the level of cleanliness and services, and prepare them to receive worshipers in the best possible way.
“Supervisors and department concerned can access the app through iPad at present. We plan to add more features enabling people to register their remarks on the performance of cleaning companies and cleaning operation,” said Al Ibrahim.
He said the observers record the violations against the companies related to lack of cleaning materials and poor cleaning and submit a report to the department concerned which takes appropriate action.
