Mizoram promotes Centre’s emergency tracking initiative

Aizawl: Mizoram minister for social welfare and women & child development (WCD) Lalrinpuii on Friday launched a promotional video on the emergency panic button at her office in the Mizoram Secretariat, Aizawl.The video, produced by the Mizoram state commission for protection of child rights (MSCPCR) in collaboration with the WCD department, aims to raise public awareness about the central govt’s vehicle location tracking system (VLTS) — a safety initiative designed to help citizens understand how the panic button and tracking devices installed in public transport vehicles can be used to ensure swift emergency response and protection for women and children.Following the 2012 Nirbhaya case in New Delhi, the central govt introduced stricter security measures for women and children. As part of these efforts, the VLTS project was developed. In 2018, the govt mandated that all public vehicles be equipped with tracking devices and emergency (panic) buttons.The system enables authorities to identify a vehicle’s location during emergencies and respond swiftly through coordinated action between monitoring centres, the emergency response support system (ERSS), and the police.In Mizoram, the transport department has begun implementing the project, with installations already underway in various public transport vehicles. The government emphasised that public awareness and understanding of the system are essential to ensure its effective use during emergencies.