Sabarimala (Kerala): In a continued effort to enhance the safety of child pilgrims visiting Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, Vi, India’s leading telecom operator, has partnered with the Kerala Police during the ongoing annual Mandala Pooja festival season.
Following the positive response to the Vi QR Code bands introduced last year, this initiative addresses the recurring concern of children getting separated from their families in massive crowds.
To avail themselves of Vi-powered QR Code bands, devotees of Lord Ayyappa can visit Vi Suraksha Kiosk at Pamba and get the code registered with the mobile number of a guardian or family member.
The band can then be tied to the wrist of the child pilgrim. When a lost child is found, he or she can be taken to the nearest Kerala Police check post. At the police booth, officials can scan the QR code and call the registered number of the guardian or family member to inform them to come to the booth and collect their ward.
V.G. Vinod Kumar IPS, District Police Chief of Pathanamthitta, officially launched the Vi QR Code bands initiative in the presence of Binu Jose, Vice President & Circle Operations Head – Kerala, Vodafone Idea Limited; R. Binu, Additional Superintendent of Police, Pathanamthitta, Aravindakshan Nair P B, Sub Inspector, Cyber Cell, Pathanamthitta, during a function at the Office of the District Police Chief, Pathanamthitta.
Binu Jose said, “At Vi, we focus on using technology to make everyday life safer and simpler. Every year, an estimated 45–50 million devotees visit Sabarimala during the Mandala Pooja season, making it one of the largest pilgrimages in the world. Amidst such large crowds, the Kerala Police handles hundreds of cases of lost child pilgrims during the Mandala and Makara Vilakku seasons.
Aligned with Vi’s ‘Be Someone’s We’ campaign, which promotes togetherness and inclusivity, our QR code technology ensures that families can feel more secure and connected during this sacred journey.
This initiative not only supports devotees but also strengthens the efforts of the Kerala Police in managing one of the largest gatherings of people in the country.
V.G. Vinod Kumar said the Vi Suraksha QR Code technology band will play a significant role in the efforts of the Kerala State Police to manage missing cases of child pilgrims and to reunite them with their guardians.
The QR Code bands will be active during the pilgrim season and are non-transferable. During last year’s Mandala Pooja season, Vi distributed about 17,000 Vi QR Code bands, ensuring the safety of child pilgrims.
UNI
