Police to try using software to track missing children

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The Delhi High Court has directed the police to use a 'Facial Recognition Software' (FRS), on trial basis for two weeks, to track missing children. Justices S. Muralidhar and I.S. Mehta on Thursday said after checking the FRS' efficacy and usefulness in tracking missing children, the Delhi Police should file an affidavit with results of the test.

The direction came on the submission made by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which is ready to supply the FRS to the government free of cost so as to track missing children. The court asked the Ministry of Women and Child Development to re-examine its stand as it mentioned that the government has been dealing with a Kolkata-based firm for developing the software to track missing children. The Ministry said funds have already been earmarked for the project, pending approval.

"Waiting for the perfect software to be developed with an open-ended timeline does not serve the purpose of addressing the issue of missing children on an urgent basis," it said. The court directed the Ministry to file an affidavit and listed the matter for further hearing on April 5. The NGO has clarified that the software, once it is run through the network of National Informatics Centre (NIC), would prevent any private player to interfere in any manner and the software would adequately assist in identifying and rehabilitating children aged 3 years and above.

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