A UN woman supported survey in Delhi states that 95 per cent of women and girls feel unsafe in public places. Some females face issues at the own homes, schools, offices space etc. However, we often confine women’s issues as violence or sexuality-related. It is essential to understand that the lack of knowledge about sexuality, reproductive health and overall well-being is also a common concern. Most women or adolescent girls are not even aware that they face such problems. According to a UN report on Comprehensive Sexuality Education, despite good progress in some countries, too many fails to ensure children and young people have the knowledge and skills they need for good health and well-being.
International organizations and governments worldwide have been trying to find solutions to reduce the violence against women. In India, apps such as 112 India, Mysafetipin, and Smart 24*7, which function for women in danger, are notable initiatives. But what if our females have doubts about their physiology and have little idea whom to talk to. These days people mostly rely on Google to clear their doubts. But it cannot always provide reliable and credible diagnostics.
In this scenario, WhatsApp, popular instant messaging service has stepped up with an AI-based solution- Bol Behen. Bol Behen is a new chatbot in India that the company has launched in partnership with the non-profit Girl Effect. The Chatbot will deliver material on issues such as relationships, sexuality and reproductive health.
How does Bol Behen work?
The AI Chatbot is available 24×7 for women and adolescent girls. Anyone can access the Bol Behen Chatbot with a phone number or a web invite link. Questions can be asked about various topics in Hindi and English. Users may contact Chatbot by sending a WhatsApp message to +917304496601 or by viewing its profile on the web. The Chatbot aims at adolescent girls and young women in India’s Hindi belt, according to WhatsApp.
An earlier version of Chatbot was developed in South Africa named “Big Sis” to provide women with accessible and nonjudgmental guidance on various sensitive issues such as sexual healthcare and relationships. According to Kanishk Kabiraj, Girl Effect Country Lead for India, WhatsApp’s technology offers the opportunity to forge closer links between girls and the health services they need, providing content that solves their concerns and encourages them to access healthcare through connection with curated and vetted providers.
With over 400 million users, WhatsApp is the most preferred mode of personal communication in India. Bol Behen will be using WhatsApp’s architecture to grasp messages better. As a result, it will respond more precisely.
Secured future with AI
The Chatbot was first launched in India on Facebook Messenger in 2020. This AI-powered solution could enable more than 100,000 conversations with over 1.6 million messages. Girl effect believes that through this Chatbot, more girls will be aided to reach an environment they consider private and safe. The Girl Effect Country Lead also stated that the introduction of this Chatbot would enable us to deliver more seamless, personalized healthcare journeys in the future by allowing women to book appointments, receive reminders and share recommendations. In addition, the deployment of this AI model will disseminate women’s health and hygiene information more quickly.
Source: indiaai.gov.in
