Wednesday, 17 JANUARY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Over 2.31 lakh people have downloaded the DRUT app that was launched on Home Guards Raising Day on December 6, 2023 to provide quick emergency assistance to people in need across the State. The number of downloads is expected to increase by over 20 lakhs by the commencement of Char Dham Yatra this year, the commandant general of the Home Guard department Kewal Khurana said. He said that the genesis of the DRUT app lies in the unique positioning of nearly 5,700 home guards across the State. “The home guards hailing from diverse backgrounds and locations bring a wealth of knowledge about their communities, the local terrain and the existing infrastructure. They have a thorough understanding of the socio- geographic realities of their respective areas. This intrinsic familiarity makes them ideal first responders during times of crisis,” he said. Khurana stated that after the launch of the app, very few people initially downloaded the app but the department took the feedback and worked to improve all the glitches to make it more efficient and user- friendly. “Besides promoting the app on various social media platforms, the home guard personnel also conducted bike rallies to raise awareness among people about the app and its usage. The officials and home guard personnel also held meetings in classrooms, gram sabhas, and at local festivals to make people aware of the app in all districts. As a result, the daily average of the app’s downloads became 15,000 within a few days. At present, the top three districts with maximum users of this app are Haridwar, Almora and Pauri with 29,487, 27,558 and 27,430 registered users respectively,” Khurana said. Informing about the functioning of the app, he said that DRUT operates on a simple yet powerful principle. When any person in need presses the panic button in the app, it notifies the three nearest home guards, initiating a rapid response mechanism to provide timely assistance. Home Guards receiving distress signals are equipped to offer a range of assistance including calling the distressed person for real-time situation assessment, reaching the location promptly if immediate action is required, coordinating with district and police control rooms and providing first aid while arranging emergency medical help through local hospitals, he said. Besides this, it also addresses various distress scenarios like helping stranded tourists during treks, providing emergency assistance to pregnant women or others facing intimidation from unruly elements. It will also help ensure the safety of teenage girls and young women in stalking situations and provide a safety net for students living far away for education or jobs. It will enable the reporting of health- related emergencies faced by senior citizens and will serve as a one-stop solution for tourists and pilgrims facing emergencies during their visits, especially during Char Dham Yatra, Khurana added.
