Now, machine in Odisha for women to file police complaints

Odisha Police Tuesday introduced a machine here which can help women lodge complaints without going to any police station, an official said.

The Instant Complaint Logging Internet Kiosk (ICLICK) which looks like an ATM has been installed inside an ATM kiosk of the Bank of Baroda in the state capital.

It is being claimed the machine is a first of its kind in the country.

"The ICLICK has the ability to receive both voice and written complaints. It is directly connected to the police control room through internet," Inspector General of Police Joydeep Nayak, who conceptualised the system, told IANS.

"One can lodge a complaint in three ways. If a victim wants to send an email, she can type using the touch screen and provide details of the complaint," he said.

"Second, in case she does not want to type but speak, there is a speaker mode. She can record and the voice gets transmitted to the police control room. Third option is if she has something written on a paper, she can put it inside and the machine scans it, transmitting it to the control room." The system has been patented in his name.

"This is a pilot project. We want to see how women are responding. Some people do not want to go to police station and it will help them lodge a complaint," he said.

"Odisha Police and the state-run Odisha Computer Application Centre have jointly developed this prototype machine. Based on feedback, we will take further step," he added.

The ICLICK would remain operational round the clock.