This could be a first anywhere in India. An “intelligent’’ way to stop a crime against women before it happens, or even at the time of its happening. If this strategy, which banks heavily on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), turns successful, it would indeed trigger widespread changes in the protection of women in the country.

200 INTELLIGENT EYES IN THE CITY

It’s the Lucknow police, in Uttar Pradesh, which has come up with a new technology-based solution to minimize growing crime against women. For this, there are plans to install Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled cameras at 200 “sensitive places’’ in the city. These cameras will be able to read facial expressions of both the victims and their pursuers. 

If everything goes all right and the scheme gets the final nod, the cameras will start operating in the areas of Lucknow where women are considered most vulnerable. In case a woman finds herself in distress, the cameras will send an immediate to the police control room.

POLICE COMMISSIONER SPEAKS HIS MIND

Speaking recently in a workshop at Lucknow University, the city police commissioner Mr D K Thakur said, “We have identified 200 hotspots across the city on the basis of the presence of girls and women in these areas and the complaints of stalking and harassment.’’ 

The AI-enabled cameras, Mr Thakur added, would be linked with the control room, while a ‘pink patrol unit’ and UP 112 emergency response vehicles would remain deployed near the hotspots for assured timely intervention.

Lucknow’s Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Mr Nilabja Choudhury told Indian Masterminds that this ambitious project was still in the pipeline. “We are analyzing its pros and cons,’’ he added.

If implemented, the project will be part of the Uttar Pradesh Government’s `Mission Shakti’ programme, launched in October 2020 under the broader Safe City project of the Union Government.

Eight cities have been identified for implementation of the Safe City Project in the first phase, including Lucknow. The Safe City project aims to create a safe, secure and empowering environment for women in public places, to enable them to pursue all opportunities without the threat of gender-based violence and harassment. 

According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data of 2019, UP reported the highest number of crimes against women (59,853), accounting for 14.7 percent of such cases across the country. And UP also had the highest number of crimes against girl children, 7,444 cases.