The Indian Consulate in San Francisco has launched a new website as part of its effort to provide better and user friendly services to the large Indian American community living in the area.

"We have tried to provide the information one is actually looking for, rather than displaying the information easily available with the Consulate," Indian Consul General N Parthasarathi said at a news conference in San Francisco.

Launched by the longest serving employee of the Consulate, Ariel Quintos, the Consul General said special efforts have been made to ensure that all documentary requirements for each specific service can be seen at one location.

The San Francisco Consulate serves the needs of the Indian American community living in Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

During the past few months, the Consulate has taken various measures to improve the delivery of services provided at the Consulate and through the TRAVISA Outsourcing Agency.

Parthasarathi said the Consulate has also undertaken pro-active outreach activities wherein the Consul General and other senior officers of the Consulate have interacted with a large number of community associations, participated at various functions, and provided clarifications on various issues of interest to the community.

The new website aims at providing information actually needed by the applicants.

"All the information required for a specific service is provided at one particular place, which is easier to access.

The website also provides helpful tips and easy guidance in unambiguous terms to help those seeking various services," an official release said.

"Specific e-mail contacts are provided for specific service needs and all e-mails are being answered in time by the Consulate," the Consul General said, adding apart from providing a response, the Consulate already takes action to provide the services sought by the applicants.

In addition, during specific timings on working days, an official from the Consulate would be available in person to answer the queries over telephone. The Consulate would nonetheless encourage people to use e-mails so that they can get timely responses, it said.