Jharkhand is planning to upgrade its emergency helpline with Dial 112, allowing the citizens not only to send information via a classic phone call but also via well-known messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. The project is expected to modernize emergency communication and enhance responsiveness, and make the system more accessible and usable by the population.
Dial 112 is currently used as an emergency support line that allows police, fire, ambulance, and other emergency services to provide emergency-related services to the population. The majority of the reports are received via voice, which are manually recorded and sent to the authorities concerned. It was observed by the officials that, though the service has been operating successfully, there is an increasing need to implement the use of digital communication modes that individuals engage in their daily lives. The system upgrade should result in better speed, accuracy, and convenience of reporting emergencies with the increased use of smartphones and instant messaging.
When adopted, distraught citizens can transmit information about the occurrence of events via text messages, pictures, videos, and even the position of locations using WhatsApp or Telegram. This option will come in handy, especially when the callers are in a position where they are not able to talk, are trapped or are in danger of being heard in case of an emergency. Messaging sent out in visual evidence may also assist emergency teams in making more assessments of a situation before they arrive at the location.
Besides messaging-based reporting being introduced into it, the upgraded system will have speech-to-text attributes. As callers speak to the helpline, their voice inputs can be transcribed in real time, with the operators being able to process information within a short amount of time and the digital records kept cleaner. The software will also include location-detection so that it can automatically trace the location of the caller and save time on the verification, and mobilize the teams faster.
The system will first be launched in Ranchi then it will be extended to other parts of the state. Police officers reckon that the enhanced Dial 112 will enhance the confidence of the population in the emergency service and simplify the process of coordinating the efforts of the response teams. The new system would be bound to quell some positive change in the way high-volume communication of distress is dealt with in several cities with more than 50 emergency calls received per day.
The advantage of this digital enhancement in Jharkhand is that the emphasis is on enhancing safety, access, and speed of emergency service. In case of success, the model would serve as an example of the emergency communication systems in other states in India that would consider adopting the modern multi-platform support of the public safety services.
