FREEDOM through life without fear

I am from a humble background and earned an Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT in 1970.

Journeyed from Trainee to top management roles.

1990 was ranked among the Marketing Hotshots of India.

1992 set up a Consultancy company. Assisted a variety of corporations mostly pertaining to India entry strategy.

Have served on the Boards of several corportions, including MNCs.

2006 was recipient of the Government sponsored Department of Science and Technology Research GITA Research award together with IIT Delhi.

2015, following a personal tragedy, immersed himself into developing a technology-based solution to serious issues related with social freedom, which could enable boys; girls; young men and women and elderly to pursue their lives without fear. Freedom to play; study; work; venture out and enjoy their everyday lives.

Has filed two relevant Patents and has fully funded and created the ‘IRA HerDUM’ system. He is the Managing Director.

Problem: Due to gender inequalities; social fractures; increasing crimes, fear inhibits people to move around, study, play, work and enjoy their right to enjoy their lives. In many societies, mostly girls and children are restricted from leaving home to study; play; socialise; travel due to fear of molestation and attacks. This leads to increasing school drop-out rates; early marriages; child labour and under employment.

Our solution: ‘IRA – HerDUM’ uses new technologies and puts together a global eco system, that enables all to seek and get assistance, when speed of response is mission critical.

Changing lives of people to change the world: ‘IRA-HerDUM’ offers the prospect of life without fear. That in turn offers the prospect of freedom for all people. Particularly the vulnerable; weak and the disenfranchised.

Young and old; across genders; social and religious barriers can then pursue their education, dreams, work across geographies and enjoy their lives.

UN report (https://www.unwomen.org/en/wha...) informs in a multi-country study, between 40 and 60 per cent of women said they had ever experienced street-based sexual harassment (mainly sexual comments, stalking/following, or staring/ogling). Results from that survey showed that almost 39 per cent aged 15 and older who have been in the workforce in the last five years have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace during that period. Applies to elderly; children and the weak.

Personal safety in public spaces is a serious problem in many countries. The problem is exacerbated due to anonymity of large or floating populations.

It is made more complex since most humans are constantly moving on the map. Everybody is pressed for time.

While investigating and punishing the criminal(s) post-facto may be a deterrent, perpetrator punishment is little consolation to the victim. Rightly, the crime should not have taken place or should have been foiled.

As Aung San Suu Kyi puts it, “The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear”

‘IRA HerDUM’ is to offer Freedom for all to enjoy their everyday lives enables all to study; travel; meet friends; play and enjoy.

IRA (Intelligent Responsive APP) offers the basis for a definite and very quick response system, that is mission critical for providing effective assistance.

Our objective is to pre-empt the crime through very quick and definite response.

Irrespective of where the “Person Seeking Assistance’ (PSA) is located, we provide an ‘Intelligent Responsive APP’ (IRA) eco system that automatically locates pre identified matrix of ever dynamic volunteers  / responders within a radius of – say 500 m through Geo-Contextual search (Patent filed).

IRA also triggers GPS located static IoT audio / visual alarms within 500m which attracts attention to such a call for help.

Another operational variant, IRA triggers vehicle mounted (dynamic) audio / visual IoT alarms within a distance of 10m of the complainant. The vehicle is then tracked to take care of a situation inside a moving vehicle. The alarm marks the vehicle and attracts attention leading to quick apprehension.

Besides, we have designed a hands-free, effort less, fully secured, wearable, long battery life stand-alone device that acts as the trigger for setting off the IRA alarm system. (Patent filed).

IRA HerDUM is an economical end to end solution for providing universal, secular and geography agnostic assistance to all. 

In many areas, due to safety concerns, people have restrictions regarding clothes; movement; study; socialise and enjoy.

They go out if accompanied by a senior person or if someone is keeping an eye where children are playing.

The predator has little fear of apprehension. He is confident that the police won’t reach fast enough or no one would challenge him.

Their lives are blighted by fear.

They need FREEDOM from fear.

We interviewed over 1,000 young women and 200 young men.

It showed their lifestyle was seriously disrupted and that they obtained approvals from parents over phone after choosing the timings and locations they would be visiting. And then, all had to go on calling home at intervals to assure a worried family of their safety.

We needed to create an atmosphere of safety by replicating the ‘eye on the street’ with an eco-system that provides that security.

We have an Eminent Advisory Board (EAB) comprising four incredibly gifted ladies and one security expert

Juxtaposing interview findings on EAB’s advice we developed ‘IRA’ (Intelligent Responsive APP).

IRA HerDUM is a system that enables very quick response from a matrix of responders that meets the need to offer freedom to all.

In several places, it is unsafe for the girl child or young women. 

Especially when they walk; travel by cycle or public transport. Even more so if they are from the underprivileged class.

Threats include, street-based sexual harassment (mainly sexual comments, stalking/following, or staring/ogling, or inappropriate touching).

They are sequestered at home.

Their basic education; graduate studies; professional training; health and social interaction suffer. It leads to domestic work and early marriage.

Safety through IRA would build awareness of safety for the underprivileged.  That in turn leads to all pursuing education and seek better opportunities for better employment and life.

In 2012 Delhi witnessed one of the ghastliest crimes of abduction of a young woman, gang raped and a foreign object was inserted in a moving bus in daylight and left to die. Despite all medical help, she died. The country exploded in protest and demanded more stringent punishment etc.

The ‘Nirbhaya’ (Meaning "The fearless" - public designated pseudonym) case.

An elderly lady, IRA learnt of the crime from the television. When she heard the details on the television, she wept.

She asked me to do something about it and to try and help so that this kind of crime gets reduced.

I pleaded that I could do pretty little with a sociological problem like this.

The lady, insisted and questioned me of the value of my education or professional success if my knowledge could not be used for good of all human beings.

I said “I will see” and then, forgot about the request.

In 2014, following a very short illness, IRA passed away.

Grief stricken; I recalled IRA’s dream. This was perhaps her last real request.

I, simply launched myself into finding a technology solution to the problem of safety for all. 

I am deeply passionate about the project.

‘Nirbhaya’ was from very modest background. Her drive, grit, determination and hard work had brought her to study in the nation’s best medical school in Delhi.

That evening, like many young people, she went to a movie and shared a meal with her friend.

The mistake she made was to get into a public bus to go back – when there was no way for her to know that the bus was off duty and has only 5 (depraved predators) staff of board.

My question was – how can such an innocent act on her part become so lethal for her? What could have saved her? How can I provide the fresh air that all citizens need that gives them the confidence to pursue their dreams; pleasures; work; social life without time and location restrictions; mode of transport restrictions etc.

How can I assure freedom to all in the jungle which unfortunately has some predators?

I pursued my dreams. I did not come across such situations. Perhaps I was lucky.

On reflection, I realised, IRA was right.

“What good is my education and success if I don’t give back a little to people”.

I am a five-decade veteran of the technology ingress, implementation, marketing, distribution, and joint venture imperatives and in the communications field. I am an Honours Graduate from the renowned Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in Electrical Engineering.

Much of my early career was spent building and operating new businesses, new territories, innovation implementation, emerging market work, innovative marketing and path breaking communications strategies for major Indian and overseas corporations.

I was ranked among the ‘Marketing Hotshots’ for India on 1990 by Business World Magazine.

In 1992 he opted for a private practice I have been working successfully as an independent ever since. I have managed projects ranging between US$ 10,000 and millions of dollars.

I have directed number of new product / services launches.

In 2002, I designed a technology “Lamite’. It was evaluated in IIT Delhi. Isreal Aerospace Industries entered a technology licencing agreement.

In 2006, I together with IIT Delhi received the Department of Science and Technology research award for mitigation of vehicular emission.

I have served / am serving on the Board of Directors of Carrier Aircon Limited; Phillip Morris India Private Limited; Hunter Douglas India Private Limited; Window Furnishings India Private Limited; New Delhi Corporate Consultancy Services Private Limited; KJS India Private Limited (Kraft Foods); Stratcon Consultancy Private Limited; Herdum Systems Private Limited; Sapsys Systems Integrators Private Limited; Milkfood Limited; Bausch & Lomb India Limited; Bausch & Lomb Eyecare India Private Limited; Bates Clarion Limited; SBSA Technologies Pvt Ltd, Israel; Wise Systech Pte Ltd, Singapore etc.

At 68 (now 73), when most wind down and conserve financial resources, I decided to use my retirement fund to promote IRA development.

Initially I assisted a business house pro-bono to develop AI based ‘detection end’ products using my technology and man hours. The products were demonstrated in CES in January 2018. 

During CES, became seriously unwell in Las Vegas. Later I returned to India and started to work undeterred.

I am continuing to pro-bono advise the company.

I then started working full time on the IRA HerDUM project with my own resources. 

When the IRA project was ready and about to be launched, COVID hit the world. All buyers started to concentrate resources and time on COVID related activities.

I turned this adversarial situation into an opportunity and created IRA HerDUM variants and quoted in South Africa.

• For COVID tracing without tracking all registrants.
• To increase effectivity of staff deployed and enhanced security through all stakeholders.
• To create employment opportunities for local residents from near their own homes.

To render our project resource immune, designed a ’business process’ enabling authorities implement without investment.

In 1990, a dozen armed men had entered the snacks plant in a remote location in the outskirts of Delhi and were holding the over hundred staff including five women hostages. Two women stripped naked as proof of their intent.

They demanded a ransom.

The gang had local political support. Local police pleaded inability to help,

Calls for help to authorities failed. I decided - as CEO, located in the head office, it was incumbent upon me to enter the facility and negotiate my employees’ safe release at extreme risk to my life.

I negotiated for the hostage takers to swap me (as a high value hostage) with employees.

The ploy worked. My staff were let go.

Till early next morning I negotiated for the hostage takers to leave and to speak to me in future over telephone instead of taking my staff hostage. No money was paid.

I transferred all women to the head office and re-opened the facility. As market leaders (with a volume and yield lead over Pepsi) we had to have products on the shelves.

I sat in the facility every day for one year to instil confidence in the staff as an act of leadership.

Not applicable

In USA, 911 is to ensure that every request from every individual is received, located and responded to in the way that best meets the needs of the public and first responders. In USA alone, to upgrade 911, it will cost between $9.5 and $12.7 billion over the next ten years.

Most other countries need it but cost prohibits such a system.

The Innovation creates a new dimension as follows:

• Create an eco-system of a variety of first responders (VFR) chosen by user
• When the ‘Person Needing Assistance’ (PNA) seeks help, we leveraged mobile phone infrastructure to provide GPS position and time of the day and relay it to the Server
• The server carries out a “Geo Contextual Search” (based on my Patent) and informs relevant VFR in a way that creates very quick response. To assist the chosen VFR a map is provided.
• The PNA gets very quick response, anywhere, anytime, globally.
• We have designed static IoT devices for installation at locations for ‘on demand’ audio visual alarms supporting PNA within 500m.
• Another version is vehicle mounted device for marking vehicles where PNA is inside the vehicle within a 10m diameter.
• Further, we have a Smart Button (based on my Patent) that triggers the call for assistance regarding variety of problems with two (self pre-selected) words spoken by the PNA in his own voice.
• System can be deployed globally in months at a fraction of costs budgeted by 911. No number is required to be remembered or dialled.

Product has not been launched commercially so far.

We are poised for launch in September / October 2020. Though delayed due to COVID, our proposals are receiving favourable traction from two State Governments of India.

If even one Indian State goes ahead, it will potentially serve a population of 20 Million.

We foresee, over the next five years, we would have covered at least three Indian States. Potentially, IRA HerDUM could be serving a population base of over 120 million.

We believe, the one thing that creates an ideal environment for human growth and development is FREEDOM.

Freedom to play; study; socialise and enjoy one’s life inside and outside home. With no restrictions on time of day; place to go to; clothes to wear and pursue one’s dreams and beliefs.

Countries which are considered safe are those where the ALL people are confident, that if they need any assistance - they always get it. 

Best example is 911 in the USA.

The access to such service must be for all; round the clock; everywhere; secular; irrespective of economic status; belief; religion; colour of the skin; ethnic background etc. The same number should work globally seamlessly.

IRA HerDUM strives to offer the eco-system that potentially offers exactly this service.

How?? We believe, society is a ‘mutual help and support’ system. Police; Fire service; ambulance service etc are the final support organisations. Given the geographical population size and spread and the eternal budgetary problems of maintaining such a service backbone, it is imperative that the people get a system that enables create an ecosystem with multi layered socially responsible responders. The APP helps locate proximate responders that including public ‘Angels’, beat policemen; local security men and non-proximate friends and family. Depending on the call – whether for safety; fire; medical, it informs the police; fire department or hospitals.

We offer service to humanity through FREEDOM from fear to all.

In the heaven of freedom, let my people awake!!

Financial: We require funds to create the SaaS infrastructure. We need orders from State authorities to fund the system. State authorities do not have any allocable resources to invest the seed capital required for kick starting any State’s system. This is a standard problem with all Governments.

Technical: Our system works using only Smart Phones. Our tech challenge is how to extend usage to Feature Phones. For that purpose, we will need geo positioning information about the User / Angel through the triangulation process. This search resolution is inaccurate. Besides, this search can be achieved only with co-operation of and by telecommunications companies. 

Though feature phone sales are declining YoY 44% and smart phone sales are increasing 10% YoY.

Legal: In our system, we do not track the User, offering privacy to the user. While, in order to offer quick response to the person needing assistance, we need to locate all Angels every 5 to 10 minutes. The Angel location data would be retained only till after the next GPS position data acquisition. Angel data retention is not more than is 5 minutes+ to 10 minutes+. Also, we store no movement data of Angels. While Angels will be required to sign disclaimers and indemnities for us. We have to find ethically accurate ways to protect the data and to be compliant with legal protection rules.

Market Barriers: Arising out of the technical features of Feature phones we are currently potentially the Low-Income segment, who are perhaps the most vulnerable.

Financial: We have crafted a legally accurate and ethical method to ensure, we get paid, while the Government does not need to make budgetary allocations. We need to think through other methods to reduce State expenses or hybrid financing models.

Technical: We intend to seek partnership of telecom companies to work with us to offer services to feature phone users with financial benefits to telecom companies.

Legal: We plan start an education / advocacy program through Non-Governmental Organisations to sensitise the public to accept this temporary tracking with strict implementation of technologies to obviate personal tracking.

Market Barriers: Post arrangements with telecom companies, we will able to plug the market segment gap and address the most needy.

We have no partner

Freedom is hard to get.

In the IRA HerDUM system, public ‘Angels’ act as a ‘good Samaritan’, subject to personal time / ability to do so.

Clearly, Users will find value if Angels are there nearby. And the reaction is quick.

Therefore, we must thank all Good Samaritans (Angels). And register them free of costs.

But the SaaS backbone needs financial resources.

We plan to offer a micro subscription-based service to Users (registrants who are seeking support if needed) register in numbers – paying a subscription fee (of the order of US$ 0.015 per day in India).

Planned Business Model:

• Any State Government places an order for about 200,000 Angel / User subscription at a large discount and pays an annual Licence Fee. Thereafter, each User pays annual subscription of US$ 0.015 per day.
• The User Specific Voice and User specified word activated alarm is set off through the Smart Button and the IoT (static and moving) alarms will be sold to users through distributor network and standard electronic market places, such as Amazon. The Smart Button and the IoT alarm will carry an annual subscription.
• We have a variety of other value-added services / products ready and in the pipeline through which we can act as consolidators for outside security / service agencies. Besides a bouquet of marketing services are ready for launch. These potentially yield significant incomes.

Key beneficiaries:

• Public at large
• Governments for service optimisation

People love FREEDOM.  That is why IRA HerDUM has a need.

We recognise that funds can be accessed only if we have a strong product.

We need a real business plan. And that the business plan must be attractive to all investors.

We have carried out price acceptance studies already and we know the sustainable subscription rates and hardware MRP.

We have a clear road map to accelerating revenues and EBIDTA through a variety of value-added products.

We have retained the services of a good CPA firm to evaluate the IPs and the business plan and to assist us pace the product/s launches so that it becomes possible for any investor to see the down-side and the up-side to the project in detail.

We expect:

End September 2020: To have our Elevator Pitch and fully bankable project report ready.

Early 2021: A small breakthrough in South Africa. Due to the security situation there and the worsening situation arising out of COVID. To take up this work, we will need Venture Capital. This project would enhance our Share Value substantially. That will offer comfort to the Venture Capital.

First Quarter 2021: COVID crisis flattens out. We make a breakthrough in one small State of India. This project would further enhance our Share Value substantially. That will enable us to market our investment opportunity through the Investment Banker circuit.

Year 3: Strong Share Value. We induct funds through Private Placement.

Year 7: We go global. Have IPO and list our Shares.

We are confident of being able to service all funds.

Project is currently entirely funded by me. We are yet to make final launch and generate revenue.

We need to access funds as follows:

Grant:

• We have already carried out trial runs for the APP at various locations. The Smart Button and IoT alarm prototypes are ready.
• We need funds to set up a larger on-site test for the entire system together with the APP; the Smart Buttons and IoT alarms running in a real-life environment.

We need US $ 1 Million as a Grant

Phase 1: Equity:

• Once the above testing phase is over, we need funds to scale up the system as also get a controlled number Smart Buttons and IoT alarms to carry out market seeding operation and to register Angels and Users.
• We need US $ 3 to 4 Million as ‘Venture Capital’. We are willing to dilute our holdings at an appropriate premium per share to be able to offer an appropriate reward to the VC – should the project succeed thereafter.

Phase 2: Equity:

• Once Phase 1 above is completed, we need funds to accelerate the global launch and set up full systems across geographies.
• We need US $ 10 to 12 Million through a Preferential Allotment an appropriate premium per share to be able to offer.

This is the age of disruptive ideas that SOLVE people problems.

Not only how much we believe in our idea, we need to test our vision through very talented and qualified people, to know whether the idea has the potential to fire the imagination of the large number of Angels / Users. And of administrations. To offer real support to all people.

We have humility to recognise that all technical or financial ideas cannot come from us. We need to induct organisations, within our financial limitations, who bring to the table ideas that address:

Financial: How do we create financial models (apart from the one we have crafted) that sets administrations’ budgets free and the geographic roll out gets accelerated.

Technical: Several companies are ideally placed to address the issues related with use of feature phones.

Legal: More than advocacy, we need to work with Social Media companies who have overcome the problems related with ID and data security and privacy of all individuals.

Market Barriers: Large Social Media companies and telecom companies can potentially assist in a quick global roll out. Their participation would offer them handsome returns and best returns to our shareholders.

‘MIT Solve’ potentially offers us access to experts and possible partners. They would bring expertise and knowledge. Partners could assist in opening doors to funding organisers.

‘MIT Solve’ would attract thinkers, investors and key administration personnel..

That could go a long way to accelerate our dream and offer services to all

Strategic Partnership:

Our product – practically – should be used by all.

That way all get the universal cover to get a response to get assistance.

Our product profile clearly fits into any Social Media company’s offerings. Besides, according to our projections, after induction of over 30 million Angels / Users, the basic service can potentially be provided free of costs to the Angel / User. The revenue basis also fits into Social Media companies’ revenue strategy.

Possible names would be:

• Facebook
• WhatsApp
• Messenger

How they can help advance the project:

There is a symbiotic match with their service profile / strategy. If these platforms are used, our project gets access to the social media company’s client base; their messaging platform can be integrated with our system. At the same time, the target company would get a brand-new strategic advantage over their competition.