A new government rule may block WhatsApp/Telegram for Indian seafarers while they are in international waters. Their families need this communication to survive. We demand an urgent exemption.

Every year, more than 2.5 lakh Indian seafarers leave their homes to work on ships across the world. They spend months at sea, far from their families, with no access to normal mobile networks. Their only way to stay connected is ship WiFi, Starlink, VSAT, or satellite internet.

But a new Government of India rule — the SIM-binding requirement — now threatens to cut them off from WhatsApp, Telegram, and other apps if their SIM card does not connect to a mobile tower for long periods.

At sea, no Indian SIM can connect to any tower.

There is only satellite internet.

This means thousands of seafarers will suddenly find their apps logged out, locked, or impossible to verify because OTP messages cannot be received offshore.

This will cause:

⚠️ Total loss of communication with families
⚠️ Emotional and mental-health breakdowns on both sides
⚠️ Operational and safety risks onboard ships
⚠️ Disruption of emergency contact with ports and shipping companies
⚠️ Parents and spouses waiting for months without hearing a single voice message

I am the wife of a seafarer and an employee of GoI. I know firsthand how deeply families depend on one WhatsApp call just to know, “I am safe.” Many parents wait months for their son’s voice. Many children sleep only after hearing their father’s message.

For us, communication is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline.

This rule threatens to take it away.

Indian seafarers are among the strongest contributors to India’s global workforce, foreign exchange, maritime reputation, and strategic manpower. We cannot punish them for working outside mobile coverage zones.

We ask the Government to urgently provide exemptions for seafarers under the SIM-binding rule and allow:

✔ WiFi-only verification
✔ DigiLocker/Passport/CDC/SID-based authentication
✔ Email or QR-based login (not SMS OTP)
✔ A special “Seafarer/Global Worker Mode” for verified offshore workers

These simple changes will protect cybersecurity goals while ensuring Indian seafarers and their families are not emotionally destroyed by forced communication blackouts.

Please sign this petition and stand with seafarers, their parents, spouses, children, and the millions who depend on India’s maritime heroes.

Let’s not silence the voices of those who keep global trade moving.

Let’s ensure every seafarer can still say “I am safe.”

🟦 Call to Action 

Sign this petition to urge the DoT, MEITY, DG Shipping, PMO and Ministry of Ports & Shipping to urgently create an exemption for Indian seafarers under the SIM-binding rule.