The Department of Telecommunication Ministry of India has announced an innovative solution for women`s safety which is a Panic Button on the mobile phone. Women can use this button when they are in dangerous situation which will alert police and relatives. The scheme was announced by the Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi. The trail run for the scheme happened in 47 districts of Uttar Pradesh which was successful and government is planning to implement the scheme across India.
What is Panic Button Scheme (PBS): A panic button on mobile phones. Women in distress/trouble can use the feature for help. (Click one button on mobile and call police.)
Panic Button Scheme Objectives:
- To provide immediate relief to the women in distress
- To assure women safety
How Panic Button System works?
- Women in trouble can press a panic button
- The mobile phone will send SMS to the local police station control room, her relative and nearby volunteers
- The SMS will contain exact location details (geo-coordinates) of the women
- Police teams and local volunteers will immediately sent to the location based on the Global Positioning System coordinates
Panic Button Scheme: Highlights
- iOS, Andoid and all the normal phones to have the panic button
- The government is planning to make the panic button mandatory
- The system works on real-time and provides quick response
- During the trail the police teams reached on the spot as quick as in 2 minutes and max 26 minutes
- The average response time was 8 minutes. The trail was conducted in rural and urban areas
- Police vans were dispatched and help women and children in distress
- The trail was launched on 26th January 2018