Response sought on tech used to trace missing children

NHRC issues notices to Centre

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Centre asking for the status of technology being used to trace missing children in the country.

Suo motu cognisance

Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report, the NHRC observed that proper use of technology could help in reuniting missing children with their families.

Loopholes

The report, which was published on Wednesday, said while a large number of children were missing, there were gaps in the legal framework and loopholes in the technology used to trace them.

Asking for the present status of the technology used, the NHRC issued notices to the Secretaries of the Union Home Affairs Ministry and the Union Women and Child Development Ministry.

Statement

“They have been asked to give their comments in the matter along with the status of the initiatives taken including the portals developed by them by specifically mentioning whether the tools like ‘Facial Recognition Software’ have been added to match the records of the ‘missing and found children’ [sic],” the Commission said in a statement.