Mobile phone companies agree to install panic button: Maneka

For women in distress, police help will soon be available with just a press of finger on their phone as Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has managed to get mobile phone companies on board for providing panic button in handsets by March next year that will send emergency alerts.

Mandatory regulations in this regard will be issued by the Department of Telecommunications soon, Gandhi said.

The plan that has been finalized with the consensus of mobile manufacturers will help address the issues of women security as both new and existing phones will be able to install the enhanced feature.

“It took us one year to finalize this initiative. We held several meetings with mobile companies and they have finally agreed to provide panic buttons in mobile phones,” the Women and Child Development Minister said. “If a woman feels she is in trouble, the only thing she has to do is press that button and it will immediately send a message to the police,” the minister explained. 

Gandhi said while the new handsets will come with in-built buttons, the customers will be able to upgrade their phones at dedicated centers.