“Mobile handsets to galvanize efforts for transforming women empowerment in India: Indian Cellular Association (ICA)

The Indian Cellular Association (ICA) welcomed and appreciated the release of the notification culminating efforts of over 3 years to build a deeply penetrating mobile Information Technology architecture to enhance safety of women, though with a caveat. A Nirbhaya Fund was established by the Government of India following the nationwide outcry after the December 2012 brutal gang rape of a young paramedic student in New Delhi.

The Government of India after intense consultations with the Indian Cellular Association (ICA) finally decided to zero in on the role to be played by the Mobile handsets to enhance women safety from the point of view of its pervasive usage and ability of women to easily reach out for help at times of threat and distress by simply following some basic processes to activate / highlight SOS / panic situations and initiating rescue operations by the law enforcement agencies.

“We all understand that mobile handsets are all pervasive and the ideal information technology device for the vast Indian population. It was extremely important that we come up with a very simple solution both for feature phones and smart phones, so simple that anyone can understand it.  We are extremely thankful to officials from DOT, DEITY, mobile operators and the ICA committee who worked on this tirelessly. The final result is simple and this mobile solution will be understood by all”, said Mr. Pankaj Mohindroo, National President, Indian Cellular Association (ICA).