Kudumbashree project: Women techies fear for safety

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The death of a Malayali woman techie in Pune has triggered concerns among the techies in IT parks in Kerala too as a number of women employees work  alone  even during odd hours. The IT engineer from Payimbra  in Kozhikode was found strangled in her Infosys office on Sunday night. The techies point out that a good number of IT firms in the state work on a 24x7 basis and women may have to work alone in such firms.

“During weekends,  only a minimum number of staff turn up for work and the offices and campus would be quite deserted. In  such situations, only security personnel will be around. Hence, it is important for the employers to ensure their credentials,” said Mr. Rajeev Krishnan, secretary of Prathidhwani, a forum of Technopark employees. Anaswara of Prathidhwani women forum said that under no circumstance a woman employee should be forced to stay back alone in office, especially at  weekends or odd hours.

“If a woman has to work alone, she can do it  from her home. Also the presence of women security should be ensured in case women employees need to work during odd hours or at  weekends,” she said. Even as women security personnel are deployed in Thiruvananthapuram Technopark, their services are not available during odd hours. Women security staff are yet to be deployed on the campus of Technopark phase -III though many women employees are working there. The credentials of the security deployed are a major cause of  concern, especially in the wake of the Pune incident. Companies often engage private security firms, but would not bother to check the credentials of those posted on duty. 

“The companies normally depend on the credibility of the security agencies. That's why they seek the agencies’ services,” said sources at a Tehcnopark firm. Meanwhile, the park authorities said that they give due importance to women’s safety. The companies are asked to provide drop facility to women working during odd hours. Women security staff are also deployed on the campus and it would be extended to third-phases too. Even pink patrol of the police visits the campus, said a Technopark official.