Panic buttons for mobile phones in India

India's government says from next year all mobile phones sold in the country must include a panic button. It's part of a campaign to enhance the safety of women at a time when there's increased scrutiny of sexual violence.

A woman pays respect on the second anniversary of the deadly gang rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi. The case sparked public outrage and helped make women’s safety a common topic of conversation

A woman paying respect on the second anniversary of the brutal gang rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi. Source: AP

Madhu Kushwah is proud to be a cabbie, elbowing her way onto a seat almost exclusively dominated by men.

The 27 year old is an employee of Sakha cabs in Delhi, an enterprise where Indian sisters are doing it for themselves.

At Sakha cabs the drivers are all women and their passengers are too.

"I like this job very much. It's totally different. Women generally never do this kind of work.  This job gives girls the opportunity to prove we can do something other than housework and sewing which is why I like this work ."

There may be very few women driving taxis in India, but the demand for female cabbies in Delhi is high.

Ms Kushwah says many women feel safer with a female taxi driver.

" We don't have men drivers, just lady drivers and that makes our clients feel safe and I feel safe too.  I don't have any fear of my passenger and she doesn't have any fear."

Violence against women in India captured international attention in 2012 after a woman was gang-raped on a Delhi bus.

The issue is again making headlines after five men were sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this month for gang-raping a Danish tourist in 2014.

The judge said the men's actions had stigmatised the nation.

They certainly put the spotlight on sexual violence in India.

Ranjana Kumari is one of India's most prominent women's rights activists.  

She's the director of the Centre for Social Research in Delhi.

"If you are a working-class woman, or a middle-class woman who has to fend for herself every day, go to work, come back and then on the way you meet all kinds of people in public transport, in the office, then vulnerability is very high for women."

The question is how to address that vulnerability and whether technology - like panic buttons on mobile phones -- can play a role.

It's not yet clear how the new phones will work, but it's likely customers will be able to call the emergency services by pressing a single button or pressing the power button several times.

At a martial arts centre in Delhi, half a dozen women are sweating it out at their regular karate lesson.

These women hope they'll never be cornered by a man who'll do them harm but nonetheless they're preparing for the possibility.

Delhi can be a dangerous city, they say, and women must be able to fend off would-be attackers.

Bhavini Aggarwal  is only 15 years old, but she is tall and strong.

She's been doing karate since she was five and she's sure she can look after herself should the need arise.

"In a place like India you need to protect yourself, girls need to protect themselves so if any situation arises I can protect myself, I'm confident enough to do that."


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3 min read

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By Harita Mehta




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