After the Minister of State for women and child welfare Rekha Arya inaugurated the panic button as a pilot project in the State, the State Government has now decided to distribute 50 panic buttons each in Dehradun and Haridwar for a trial basis.
Seven categories are made under which the panic buttons will be distributed in both the districts. The categories made for the distribution of panic buttons include 10 to be provided to girls going to colleges and schools, 10 to the teachers in the schools or the women working in ANM, DM, or ADM’s office while 10 to the women working in factories, five to the house maids, five to the single women/parents, five to the women living in shelter houses and five women working in hotel or e-rickshaw drivers.
Speaking about it, Arti Balodi, the State project officer of women empowerment and child development department, said that 50 panic buttons will be distributed each in Dehradun and Haridwar districts on a trial basis. “Also, a meeting would be conducted for the women selected before the distribution of the panic buttons. The trial period would be for two months after which reports would be sent from Dehradun and Haridwar. The district officers will select the women under the categories.”
Elaborating further, she said, “Currently, the message mode involving the button is normal. The in-charge deputy director would change the message from normal to emergency. We would also try to make the message bilingual in Hindi as well as in English.”
The 100 panic buttons are most likely to be distributed on September 23, say official sources.