RFID tags to be used at Mysore Palace to find missing kids

Mysuru: It is the most visited place in the city, and during the Dasara celebrations, the number of people going to the Mysore Palace only increases manifold. The palace covers a vast area, and given the many structures within the complex, one often finds navigating its labyrinthine alleys to be not the easiest of tasks. When the crowds swell, and there is little room to move about, parents understandably grow anxious about the whereabouts of their children, since the possibility of being separated from them often looms large. While announcement desks are invariably set up to make announcements about missing children to unite them with their parents, Mysuru city police have decided to rely on technical assistance to help locate missing kids. As part of the initiative, children below the age of 14 years will be given radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) to those visiting the palace, so that they can be tracked easily.
City police have tied up with mobile service provider Vodafone to ensure that children can enjoy their tour of the palace without worrying too much about the whereabouts of their kids.

Parents can purchase these RFID tags at any of three entry and exit points of the palace. The tag will contain the child’s name, an emergency contact number and relevant information.

A child wound missing with the RFID tag is taken to the control centre where the reader scans the tag to get information about the kid’s guardians. Consequently, this facilitates a hassle-free reunion, thereby ridding the parents of any sense of anxiety.

Vodafone Idea Business chief Arvind Nevatia said that the nearly 12 to 15 lakh visited the city during Dasara. “Every year, city police receive several complaints about missing children. This is the first time we are using RFID technology to help families navigating the palace,” said Nevatia.

Meanwhile, Mysuru city police commissioner A Subramanyeshwar Rao said that the sheer volume of tourists arriving in Mysuru makes policing a daunting task. “Monitoring crowd movement, and prevention of cases of missing children presents a different of challenges. The RFID tags will help cops keep an eye on children under 14, and other cops can focus on other duties,” he said.