Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 5: At every Kumbh Mela, thousands of individuals are reported lost or separated from their families. In 2013, approximately 70,000 people were reported lost during the Allahabad (now Prayagraj) Kumbh. This year has presented similar challenges, with news reports indicating that over 250 people were reported lost within the first few hours of the first day alone. As millions more are expected to gather on the most auspicious days for 'Shahi Snan' at Triveni Sangam in February, the fear of losing loved ones is a very real concern, given the risk of people becoming lost or separated in large crowd or while taking a sacred plunge. In response, India's leading telecom operator Vi, has launched the 'Vi Number Rakshak' initiative to ensure that no one feels lost, disconnected, or gets left behind.
While technology has revolutionized how people connect, there are still many who are not digitally savvy, especially elderly and small children, who often do not even own a mobile phone, struggle to remember phone numbers or are not familiar with digital tools. Recognizing this reality, Vi has set up Vi Number Rakshak booth in the prominent area near Swami Ramanand Acharya Shibir Akhada.
This booth will provide pilgrims with complimentary bracelets made of sacred Rudraksh and Tulsi beads engraved with the personal emergency contact numbers of their family members or companions. This initiative will enable pilgrims to have a dependable medium of reconnecting without having to rely on mobile phones or internet connectivity.
Speaking on the occasion, Avneesh Khosla, Chief Marketing Officer, Vi emphasized the company's people first approach, "Vi Number Rakshak highlights how the simplest solutions can play a critical role in connecting people. We are not just a telecom provider, but a people-first partner, especially when it matters most. This initiative reinforces Vi's commitment to finding the right solutions and demonstrates that the connectivity goes beyond the network."
Vi Number Rakshak embodies the spirit of Vi's philosophy of "Be Someone's We". It emphasizes the importance of fostering connections and collective support for one another, demonstrated in campaigns of the same name, which highlight the loneliness epidemic affecting urban youth and senior citizens. With Vi Number Rakshak at the Maha Kumbh, the 'Be Someone We' ideology takes on the mantle of caring for public safety and well-being at the site of such a large human gathering.
Additionally, to ensure seamless connectivity to Vi users visiting The Maha Kumbh Mela, Vi has enhanced network capacity by adding 30 new sites in Triveni Sangam as well as around 40 macro and high powered small-cells covering all major points in nearby areas. Additionally, 32 km of fiber has been deployed to strengthen backhaul connectivity to provide last mile connectivity in densely crowded areas, giving users crystal clear voice calls, seamless video streaming and high-speed data transfer. |
