Google Search Facilitated the Return of a Missing Woman from Karnataka to her Family
In a heartwarming turn of events, a woman from Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district, who had been missing for one-and-a-half years, was recently reunited with her family. The reunification took place after the woman was found in a pitiful state in South Goa district on February 5, 2024.
The woman was brought to the Savita Ashram in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district, where she received medical treatment, counselling, and emotional support. Her mental health improved, and she began to recall fragments of her identity, including the name of her hometown.
Kisan Choure, the ashram trustee, used Google Search to trace the woman's roots. He located the area where her family resided and contacted the Karwar City Police Station. This facilitated official coordination, and the Karwar Police Station was involved in the process of reuniting the woman with her family.
The woman's family had already filed a missing person report at the Karwar Women's Police Station. Coincidentally, the social organization, Jeevan Anand Sanstha, which runs the Savita Ashram, was able to use Google Search to gather specific information such as her hometown and other personal details.
This approach, which typically involves providing medical care and counseling to recover the missing person's identity, using Google Search to gather information, contacting police stations based on the information found, and collaborating with police and social service agencies to ensure safe reunion, is not uncommon for such organizations in Maharashtra.
On Monday, the woman's brother and sister-in-law visited the ashram to take her custody. The event was accompanied by an official from the Karwar Police Station. The location of the ashram visit was not specified in the release.
This incident is a testament to the power of technology and collaboration between social organizations, hospitals, and police in tracing families of missing mentally ill persons. It underscores the importance of combining medical care with investigation, sometimes invoking laws like the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, to protect rights and enable family tracing.
In a world where technology often divides us, it's heartening to see it bring people together, especially in such a meaningful way. The story of this woman's reunification serves as a reminder of the potential for technology to bridge gaps and bring hope where it's needed most.
The woman at the Savita Ashram, having considerably improved her mental health, started recalling her hometown after receiving medical treatment, counselling, and emotional support. In light of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, this incident highlights the significance of integrating medical care with investigation, demonstrating technology's potential to unite families and restore hope in health-and-wellness and mental-health contexts.
