City based foundation Sare Jahan Se Acha, recently launched a first-of-its kind mobile application for missing and found people called Re-unite. One of the person behind this initiative, is Raja Narasimhan, who is also the founder member of the foundation. He has over 20 years experience in banking and technology domains. Currently, he is an independent consultant and an entrepreneur, who has been working through various social engagements. He talks to Rajesh Rao on the importance of the Re-unite app and how it can be used by every concerned citizen.
What influenced you to start this re-unite app and is it one-of-its-kind attempt in India?
Since last October, I have been instrumental in re-uniting three missing senior citizens in Pune alone. I keep updating these on my FB page. I did a google search and a play store search and figured out that there is no single point database to track the missing and found. In fact each state police station, have their own database and many are not available on a network. In the last case, I helped the missing information was not shared between two police stations which were hardly four kilometers apart.
How will the newly launched re-unite app help in finding missing persons?
India's mobile phone usage is increasing and people are switching to smart phones. We thought why not put to use the smart phone android technology for this purpose. We have designed a very simple-to-use app for relatives or friends of the missing person to post a photograph with required details like name, age, description, identifying marks, missing from place, city etc. Similarly, if somebody has found a person, their details and photograph can be posted. To verify the genuineness of the post we have requested for an email verification. The system can match/search based on the key-words used and it will display the results found. There is no restriction on the usage i.e. anybody within India or outside India can use this App.
How can citizen involvement help in the search of missing persons?
Citizens need to visit Google play store and download the App Re-unite. It is simple and there is no cost involved. In our day-to-day life we come to know of various missing persons. We can put our shoulder to the wheel to reunite them with their near and dear ones. By helping the family there is definitely a feel good factor. This is totally a concerned citizens initiative. We are working on adding few more features like creating posters, linking it to FB/social media and doing a image recognition.
What are the difficulties faced in tracking missing persons and do we have a functional inter-state tracking system in our country?
In 2005 National Human Rights Commission reported that about 45,000 children go missing every year and this figure is rising every year. There are so many unofficial figures quoted about missing senior citizens and women. The fact remains that children or people go missing and it is extremely difficult to trace them. Leave alone inter-state, I don't think all the police stations in Pune are inter-linked and have a single tracking system. I don't think anybody has put a thought to this but with technology it is possible now.
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