'Any focus on them is good': can a new scheme help Delhi's missing children?

With 17 children missing every day, the city's police commissioner hopes a promise of fast-track promotion will inspire officers to reunite more families

New Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava was particularly troubled over the 17 children who went missing in his city every day. So he decided to light a fire in the belly of his force and came up with a new approach.

If any officer could find 50 missing children in a year their promotion would be fast-tracked. It usually takes constables at least five years to be promoted to head constable, and meeting the target would dramatically speed that up.