Integrated Alert System (SACHET)
Why in News?
The Integrated Alert System (SACHET) is a nationwide early warning platform designed to provide real-time, geo-targeted disaster alerts to Indian citizens. It is recently in the news as part of India’s push for advanced Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and recent technological upgrades.
Concept
- Meaning: "Sachet" translates to "be alert" in Hindi.
- Developers: Developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) for the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
- Standard: Based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), an international standard recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Dissemination Channels
- SMS: Location-based text messages sent under the header "XX-NDMAEW".
- Cell Broadcast: A newer technology that bypasses network congestion to deliver near real-time alerts even without an active internet connection.
- Mobile App: The SACHET App (available on Android/iOS) provides push notifications, weather forecasts, and Do’s & Don’ts.
- Multi-Media: Alerts are pushed simultaneously to TV, Radio, Coastal Sirens, Railway Announcements, and social media platforms.
Integrated Agencies
The platform acts as a bridge, connecting various Alert Generating Agencies (AGAs):
- IMD: For weather and cyclonic warnings.
- CWC: For flood-related alerts.
- INCOIS: For tsunami warnings.
- GSI/DGRE: For earthquakes and landslide risks.
- FSI: For forest fire alerts.
Unique Features
- Geo-Intelligence: Uses Geofencing to target alerts only to people within a specific high-risk zone.
- Multilingual: Supports 19+ Indian languages to ensure last-mile reachability in rural areas.
- Subscription: Users can subscribe to alerts for their current location or other districts where family members might live.
- No Login Required: Recent app updates allow users to access critical features without a mandatory login.
Download Pdf
