IT & BPO industry takes steps for women safety

After brutal Delhi gang rape case , women safety issues have taken the front seat in the IT & BPO industry as well.

Right now the IT-BPO workforce includes around 30 percent women employees. Therefore safety and security of women and providing them appropriate environment by adhering to robust security practices is a major concern for the industry.

''Working at any hours of the day is a fundamental right of every women and all stakeholder must work together in partnership to create a conducive and secure environment for women'' Som Mittal, President, Nasscom said.

Nasscom Initiative

To enhance the level of awareness on safety and security, NASSCOM announced February as the Women Safety month in the NCR region, wherein industry an NASSCOM will organize a series of events and activities to educate, engage and empower its workforce.

Nasscom also announced the AppFrame contest, wherein corporate, developers and students will be encouraged to build technology applications for women safety. The shortlisted applications will be showcased for adoption to NASSCOM members and other stakeholders.

BPO Companies Initiative

To avoid such incidences in future, large companies are undertaking multi-level safety measures which ensure security both at office premises and while computing to or back from work.
Companies follow some practices in line with this. Some of these are:

Genpact and WNS

Security arrangements at office premises- CCTVs, use of electronic devices.

   * GPS in cabs

   *Emergency helpline

   * SMS alerts and confirmations

   * Women employees not being first to be picked and dropped without
    gaurds

   * Breath analyzers for drivers

   * Maintaining detailed database of drivers and gaurds

   * Sensitiztion of escorts gurads and drivers

Some Steps at Wipro BPO

   * Vehicle-tracking system (VTS)

   * 24X7 toll-free support number

Aegis BPO

*Tweaked its human resource polices for women, now women employees across all levels can opt for a day shift instead of a night shift.

HCL Technologies

*Monitors all employee cab services from its base stations. In case of any emergency,its SPOCs (single point of contacts) manning the base station can connect immediately with local police stations and patrolling units.
Each employee also has on hand contact details of transport SPOCs,who can in turn mobilize necessary assistance in case of emergencies.

Infosys & HCL

*Conduct self-defense classes to empower its women workforce. HCL have set up shops within their office premises to facilitate the sale of pepper spray.

Mr Vikram Talwar, Chairman,NASSCOM BPM Forum said, " It is important to reiterate that it is the fundamental right of every women to work and it is the responsibility of the entire ecosystem to ensure that there is a conducive environment created for the same. It is time for the all the stakeholders- Industry, Organizations, Governments and law enforcement agencies to work towards this. The industry will continue to strengthen its own initiatives; but it cannot take on the role of the government and enforcement officials''