AI Initiative 'Detainee Gharwapsi Yojana' Safely Reunites Stranded Protesters with Families in New Delhi

A 19-year-old woman, who requested anonymity due to fear of repercussions, was detained by police during youth-led anti-government protests in New Delhi over the weekend. Thousands had gathered on Sunday, demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities in electoral rolls that led to the removal of 133 million individuals. Following her detention, the woman and other demonstrators were transported by police bus to a location approximately 50km from the protest site. Stranded with a drained phone battery and no cash, she faced uncertainty. A car eventually stopped, and the driver offered assistance. "I was frightened and completely lost. When those volunteers finally helped me get back safely, it felt like a miracle. I had never imagined that someone I had never met would come forward to help me like that," she told Al Jazeera, reflecting on the risks for a young woman in New Delhi, a city with a high rate of sexual assault.

The woman recognized one of the volunteers from online videos where he offered help to detained protesters, which reassured her. This rescue was facilitated by an AI-assisted tool, the Detainee Gharwapsi Yojana, developed by 25-year-old Rajiv Choudhary. The initiative combines a digital dashboard with a volunteer network to track police buses carrying detainees and arrange transportation for those left stranded. "Gharwapsi" translates to "to return home" in Hindi, and "Yojana" means plan. This initiative has emerged amidst near-daily protests since the beginning of October, driven by allegations of electoral fraud against Kumar and his commission. These protests, supported by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), left-leaning student groups, and the Congress party, have seen tens of thousands take to the streets. In response, authorities have implemented a significant crackdown, including road blockades and metro station closures, detaining thousands as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government faces a substantial challenge.

Choudhary stated that the network prioritizes assisting minors, the elderly, and women, particularly first-time protesters. The system utilizes a private digital dashboard with AI-assisted data processing, live mapping, and information shared by volunteers via WhatsApp. Choudhary and his associate, journalist Meghnad, initially managed a small team offering transport, legal, and medical support. The network has since grown to over 130 volunteers. "For people caught up in these demonstrations, the ordeal doesn’t end with detention. They can be taken far from the protest site and left trying to find their way home from unfamiliar locations, often struggling to contact friends or arrange transport," Choudhary explained.

The concept originated from Choudhary's experience during a previous CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. Initially focused on organizing supplies and volunteers, he later recognized the need for more systematic support for detained protesters. With renewed protests on October 2, Choudhary developed a digital system using AI tools, starting with a spreadsheet. "The whole aim behind the application was that I had to systemise things that are not systemised," he said. "We just wanted to become a support system that could help our people in their fight for their demands." He recounted assisting a woman stranded near a railway station after being released on the city's outskirts, arranging a safe ride home via a female driver. "It is heartbreaking to see people left helpless in an unfamiliar city, frightened and unsure of how they will get home," he added.

Currently operating only in New Delhi, Choudhary plans to expand the Detainee Gharwapsi Yojana to other cities. He expressed gratitude for the volunteers and drivers offering their services free of charge. The 19-year-old woman who benefited from the initiative described it as "a lifeline for protesters," highlighting the reassurance and emotional support provided alongside transportation. "I cannot thank them enough. As long as we have people like them in our society, no authority can stop us from demanding our rights and protesting peacefully," she concluded.