How technology can prevent rape incidents...

After the entire nation has been rocked with shame and anger after a 23-year-old girl was gang-raped brutally in a moving bus in New Delhi, people, especially women, now demand strict laws to prevent such incidents in the country.

So while the government changes laws, we take a look how technology can prevent such mishaps.

1. CCTV cameras: CCTV cameras could compulsorily be setup in public transport vehicles. After this incident, Delhi government is considering installing CCTV cameras inside the buses to ensure safety of women passengers, say media reports.

2. GPS on all buses: Global Positioning System (GPS) can help monitor the movement of public transport vehicles from a control room. This system has already been proposed for buses operating in Mumbai, hence it could be implemented in the rest of the country as well.

3. Download apps that can contact multiple people at a time: There are few apps on Google Play and Apple App Store that have been developed to prevent abuse. For example, an app called ‘Circle of 6' lets users choose six trusted friends to add to their circle. If one gets into an uncomfortable or risky situation, 'Circle of 6' sends their circle a pre-programmed SMS alert message, with their exact location. All it needs users to do is tap on their mobile phone twice.

4. Consider owning a taser/stun gun: Not many people know about these devices. The taser or stun gun is an incapacitating weapon that momentarily disables a person with an electric shock. The shock is not strong enough to kill a person but does give victims enough time to get away from the attackers. However, it is not commonly available in India, which is why women have resorted to using Pepper Spray instead.

5. Store the police emergency number on your speed dial: Women could save the police emergency number (100) on their speed dial so that they can immediately call the police when things go wrong. Also, when suspicious of the intentions of a stranger, women should immediately call the nearest police station.

So, under such terrible circumstances, the above mentioned points may ensure the safety of women to a certain extent.

Please free feel to share your views and other points as well, by posting your valuable comments.

The article was first published on www.dqindia.com.