The recent gang rape and death of a 23-year-old woman in New Delhi has sparked a search for technological developments that can be used by women to alert authorities of a threat to their safety, specifically a mobile application. This news comes from India Real Time.
A trade group that represents Indian technology companies called Nasscom, is having a contest to develop an application to focus on areas such as safety for women.
This came just a day after the government appointed a panel to recommended the development of a downloadable mobile phone application that can help women in trouble. The app would have a function that would send a distress signal and the location of the phone to the police.
The Nasscom contest, which is open to software developers, corporates and students, will shortlist the winning applications. These will be shown to Nasscom members, who may or may not choose to take the applications.
Vikram Talwar, chairman of Nasscom’s forum for business processes outsourcing companies, said that similar tools are already available for use.
“…this contest will primarily be done within the industry to focus on this issue of women’s safety, people will be recognized for it, and there will be a jury that will look at it. And hopefully we can then share these apps with other parts of the economy,”
Mr. Talwar said at a Nasscom press conference Thursday.
Women’s safety in India has been an issue in India for a while. I think it is a good initiative for them to have this contest to develop new technology to help protect women. Many companies have adopted policies to help protect woman workers.