In order to link citizens of India with crucial health services in April 2020, the government of India introduced the mobile application Aarogya Setu as part of the battle against the coronavirus COVID-19. The COVID-19 outbreak required a comprehensive response. In times of disaster and confusion, it is crucial to disseminate reliable information that is readily accessible. In particular, the novelty of the coronavirus made effective information management indispensable because it was new, and there was a sense of uncertainty about its origin, spread, and reaction for a long time. This is a vital weapon in the fight against COVID-19's proliferation. The Health Department of the Government of India provides all of its material.

 

Aarogya Setu Mobile App to track Covid-19 | UPSC IAS IPS IFS

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The Government of India created the smartphone app Aarogya Setu to connect all its people so they can access all necessary health services to defend themselves against the Coronavirus Epidemic. In terms of its advantages, the government's primary objective in creating the Aarogya Setu app was to make all of the initiatives it had created, especially those from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, accessible to the general public to provide users of the programme with comprehensive information about all illnesses, including risks, best practices, and relevant warnings. Information about COVID-19 is also provided in it at the same time. In just 13 days, it attracted 50 million users, making it the most downloaded programme globally.

The Aarogya Setu software supports more than 11 Indian dialects. New languages are also gradually being introduced to them at the same time. With so many languages spoken in the nation, an increasing number of people will be able to access this important knowledge in their native vernacular.

 

Goals

The goal of Aarogya Setu is to raise knowledge of the New Coronavirus among Indians. It aims to strengthen initiatives to effectively educate people about advisories and recommended procedures for containing viral spread. Create a conduit for information between the public and the government regarding the services, developments, and resources available from the Ministry of Health.

1. Utilizing Bluetooth technology, the Aarogya Setu App determines the risk or peril based on the user's position.
2. The identical risk factor depends on the information accessible in that particular location.
3. This can accurately estimate the distance within 6 feet of the user and can notify them when a COVID-19 Positive Device is passing by within 6 feet of them.
4. This programme makes recommendations for various metrics, including the Self-Assessment Exam, Social Distancing, what actions should be taken during COVID-19, and more.
5. The Aarogya Setu app also instructs users on how to defend themselves from others and how to take precautions.
6. This App advises users in very high-risk situations to visit a nearby testing facility and phone the toll-free number immediately.
7. A chatbot built into this programme is already capable of responding to all simple questions concerning COVID-19, the coronavirus illness.
8. Users may instantly get the helpline numbers for each state using this.
9. The Aarogya Setu app is a requirement for all central government workers. According to the announcement, all officers and employees (including those hired through outsourcing) who work for the Central Government were instructed to download the "Aarogya Setu" App on their smartphones. Before leaving for work, people must check their status on "Aarogya Setu" and only commute when the App indicates "safe" or "low risk."

An open-source version of Arogya Setu: A source is referred to as being "open source" if it may be shared and modified by others due to its open-source nature. The portion of software's source code that computer programmers may alter to change how it operates and functions. The source code of a computer programme can be improved by adding features by programmers who have access to it. It would be possible to create a reliable and secure technology solution that would enhance the work of frontline health professionals in battling this pandemic by increasing collaboration between brilliant young citizens through open source.

The National Informatics Center has also started a Bug Bounty Program to achieve this goal. To verify Aarogya Setu's security efficacy, improve its security, and win over users, it seeks to collaborate with security researchers and the Indian development community. It aims to motivate the Indian developer community to discover app security problems and earn rewards of Rs 1 lakh.

Registrations for the "Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav" have started on the Aarogya Setu site as part of a massive voluntary blood donation campaign planned across the nation. It was announced on September 6, 2022. By September 17, 2022, the massive blood drive hopes to have collected 100,000 units of blood.

The contact-tracing function of the Aarogya Setu mobile application (App) has been halted, and the contact-tracing data gathered by it has been destroyed, according to a statement from the Union Government. The action was conducted in accordance with the 2020 Aarogya Setu Data Access and Knowledge Sharing Protocol's guidelines.

 

Pros 

• The information will be forwarded to a government server if the user's responses indicate they have COVID-19 symptoms.
• The information will then assist the government in taking prompt action and, if required, starting the isolation procedure. It also serves as a warning if someone comes into contact with someone who has tested positive.
• According to a PMO statement, this programme can provide you with an e-pass when you are travelling from one place to another.

 

Cons

• Like other contact tracing technologies, the Aarogya Setu app depends on individuals. For the App to be effective, it must be widely used.
• As fewer people are using smartphones, their reach is constrained.
• Due to the lack of privacy laws, India is susceptible to data breaches and privacy concerns.
• Technical problems exist in addition to legal ones. The fact that each user's unique identification in the App is a static number raises the risk of identity theft.
• In a statement, Aarogya Setu said that a glitch caused certain user information to be visible on YouTube. Although it has been rectified in accordance with it, it nevertheless highlights the App's security risks.

 

Funding 

A collaboration between the public and business sectors resulted in the development of the Aarogya Setu contract tracing app. Around Rs 4.15 crore was spent to promote the App between May and July 2020, primarily on radio and television. The Centre states, "The objective of building a Made in India Contact Tracing App with the best of Indian minds from Industry, Academia and Government, working round the clock to build a robust, scalable and secure App."

 

Conclusion

The Covid-19 instances in the 500 m, 5 km, 2 km, and 10 km radius may be found using the Aarogya Setu app. The software will assist users in locating Covid 19 instances thanks to its user-friendly layout. The majority of the functionality offered by the App may be used by users thanks to the App's architecture, which makes it compatible with online services, mobile applications, and other computer programmes.

The government should speak up to ease concerns about the App's privacy and security. It is necessary to make public a clear privacy policy and any pertinent, pertinent information. The release of the App as an open source would aid in creating a transparent method of obtaining information on Covid-19 from the general public.