Mumbai: DSP Mutual Fund, in collaboration with Dentsu Creative Webchutney and Falco Robotics, has launched the innovative ‘Garuda Rakshak’ initiative to help reunite lost children with their families during the Purna Maha Kumbh, a once-in-a-lifetime religious event that is expected to draw over 400 million devotees this year. This initiative marks a significant step forward in tackling the grave issue of missing children, with the Kumbh being notorious for the high number of child separations, which has previously affected more than 250,000 individuals.
‘Garuda Rakshak’ is an offline, drone-based search-and-rescue solution designed to overcome the challenges posed by network congestion, making it easier and faster to locate lost children amidst the massive crowd. The name ‘Garuda Rakshak’ is inspired by the mythological Garuda, a divine bird symbolizing protection and vigilance, positioning the technology as a guardian in the sky during this grand gathering.
Utilizing 1970s marine navigation technology, the system operates on low-frequency radio bands for long-range communication and satellite tracking, requiring minimal infrastructure. If a child is lost, their guardian can activate the Garuda Rakshak system by tapping an ID band at the Lost and Found Centre. Once activated, the system uses real-time geo-data to guide a drone to the child’s exact location. The drone deploys an extendable colour marker high in the sky, making it easy for rescuers to visually spot and quickly locate the child. At the same time, the child’s details are transmitted to the on-ground team, ensuring a swift and reliable rescue operation.
Abhik Sanyal, Head of Marketing, DSP Asset Managers, commented, “At DSP Mutual Fund, we believe that investing goes beyond chasing monetary gains—it’s about bettering lives, communities, and inspiring hope. Backing an idea like Garuda Rakshak truly resonates with our belief that the most meaningful solutions to real problems of today can sometimes be found by those willing to dip into the wisdom of the past. For us, this initiative of hope came straight from the heart, while still embodying, perhaps even elevating, our commitment to DSP’s ‘Invest for Good’ philosophy. Because the most meaningful returns are found in the safety, love, and smiles we can help bring back to the world.”
Gurbaksh Singh, Chief Innovation Officer, India, Dentsu Creative, added, “In an era dominated by IoTs, we’ve taken a step back to draw inspiration from the past and fused it with new-age drone automation that not only saves lives but also restores hope and reassurance to families in their most vulnerable moments. The project showcases the transformative power of technology when driven by human compassion and a relentless pursuit of a safer, more caring world.”
Vishal Dixit, CEO of Falco Robotics, remarked, “The integration of drone technology with Garuda Rakshak’s offline navigation system has resulted in a truly pioneering solution, uniquely equipped to handle the complexities of such extraordinary, high-density events. We’re excited to see the difference it makes.”
The Garuda Rakshak initiative combines human ingenuity with cutting-edge technology to safeguard lives, providing an innovative approach to search and rescue that can help reunite families in one of the world’s largest and most chaotic gatherings.
