CHENNAI: If you ever spotted a child begging at the traffic signal or a kid being beaten up next door but didn't know what to do or where to start, a new app now available on Android devices aims to help you respond to instances of child abuse and understand child rights better.
CRM or Child Rights Monitor as its called, has a colourful and easy-to-use interface making it a smooth process to toggle between its integrated features - an elaborate complaint corner for the literate user to report incidents and a relatively easy way to report by simply recording a video, voice note or clicking a picture.
The data is sent live to MACT- Mary Anne Charity Trust the organiser's cell where a panel of child rights experts will take it forward. "Usually people don't know which department to send their complaints to, which is were our panel will come in," says Cyril Alexander Executive Director of MACT.
Similarly, live instances of child abuse reported on the app would also send out alerts to volunteers, picked up by those in the vicinity.
In addition, CRM also would have a plethora of informative games on child rights and a resource link connecting one to shelters and homes across the state.
"The application will facilitate the creation of a common platform for organisations, network, groups and individuals who are working for child rights to converge at one point and work for the welfare of children," said Job Zachariah, Chief of UNICEF (Tamil Nadu and Kerala) who was present.
With this app one could report an incident,
become a child right's advocate by being part of the campaign, volunteering etc, get support services from agencies, and scour for information about the legalities concerning child rights in the state.
MACT which plans to launch school level workshops on educating students about child rights and abuse also has aims to create a database. "Through the app's usage we want to be able to create reliable state and district level figures on child-rights issues that we can fall back on and plan initiatives around," added Cyril.