The Kerala Police have launched a novel venture, in association with Vodafone India Ltd., to ensure the safety of children undertaking the pilgrimage to Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala.
Under the new system, children under the age of 14 years will stay protected with Vodafone Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, which will be hung around their neck before they embark on the trek to the Sannidhanam from Pampa. The RFID tag will track the children’s movements till they return to Pampa.
Superintendent of Police Satheesh Bino, who launched the system at Pampa, said the new technology-led initiative would help prevent incidents of children getting lost in the huge crowd during the annual pilgrimage season.
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Pilgrims travelling with children below 14 years should report at the Kerala Police control room to get the facility. After registering their name, the children will be given a Vodafone RFID tag bearing the name of the child and her/his guardian, contact number and other relevant details. If a child pilgrim with an RFID tag is found separated from the group, the police personnel will take her/him to the control room and the Vodafone RFID reader installed there will read the RFID tag and the whereabouts of the child retrieved from it will be passed on to the mobile number registered in the card.
When a child pilgrim with an RFID tag crosses the RFID readers, the location information will be passed on to the mobile number registered in the card, said Ajit Chaturvedi, Vodafone India business head for Kerala.
According to the SP, the RFID technology tags will significantly simplify the Kerala Police’s task of keeping a watchful eye on children.
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The facility would be offered to the Sabarimala pilgrims till the culmination of the Makaravilakku festival season in January, Mr Chaturvedi said.