Technology with a human touch
The “Block Your Lost/Stolen Mobile Handset” feature integrates telecom providers, state police forces, and DoT in real time. The moment someone tries to use a stolen phone with a new SIM card, an alert is triggered — sent both to the owner and the local police station. That single alert often leads to the recovery of a device that could otherwise have vanished into India’s vast second-hand mobile market.
At a glance: Sanchar Saathi milestone
6 lakh+ phones recovered through the DoT’s platform.
1 phone every minute traced and returned.
Recoveries jumped 61% from January (28,115) to August 2025 (45,243).
Alerts sent to citizens + local police the moment a stolen device is used.
Initiative hailed as restoring “digital security for Indian families.”
A Senior Associate Editor with more than 30 years in the media, Stephen N.R. curates, edits and publishes impactful stories for Gulf News — both in print and online — focusing on Middle East politics, student issues and explainers on global topics.
Stephen has spent most of his career in journalism, working behind the scenes — shaping headlines, editing copy and putting together newspaper pages with precision.
For the past many years, he has brought that same dedication to the Gulf News digital team, where he curates stories, crafts explainers and helps keep both the web and print editions sharp and engaging.