Following the recent spate of crimes against women in the city, a new SMS alert system is all set to make its way into the lives of BPO employees in the NCR. BPO employees will now receive SMS alerts about safety regulations to be followed while travelling in office cabs. Even as this decision between the Delhi Police and representatives from 30 BPOs in Delhi is proposed to ensure safe commuting, there’s more than SMS alerts that women demand.
“There’s much written and spoken about safety alerts. By now most women working with BPOs know how to stay safe while commuting at night, but you really can’t do anything if someone grabs hold of you at gunpoint. The time and effort spent in sending SMSes can be utilised for something more helpful,” says Nikita Mehta, an ex-BPO employee.
After Delhi Traffic Police’s SMS alerts, which are already a hit among Delhiites, this new initiative is expected to spread awareness among women. “The traffic alerts have been a great help. The SMS alerts if sent on a regular basis, especially at night will prove to be a boon. I feel cab drivers should be sent SMSes explaining which routes they should avoid. Girls can be told how to seek help if the driver is drunk. In cases where you can’t talk in front of the driver, these alerts can help,” says Anuj, a call centre employee.
Even as the Delhi Police feels that the move would bring about awareness, there are some, who are skeptical about its execution.
“What if these alerts are not delivered due to network congestion? You can’t rely on SMSes for safety. Instead, we need safer drivers. I’m not too convinced about the SMS alert system, but I just hope it brings awareness and helps women,” says Sneha Singh, a media professional.