Kerala Startup Mission Kasaragod is organising a 30-hour national hackathon to seek technology solutions in de-addiction activities. The program is organised in collaboration with Central University, Kasaragod, District Panchayat and Excise Department.
Nationwide applications for the Hackathon which will be held on April 26-27 are open till the 16th. Applications can be submitted through the website https://startupmission.in/antidrug-hackathon/. The event will be held at Kasaragod Central University. Start-ups, innovators, students and tech-savvy people can participate in it.
The theme of the hackathon is technology solutions to prevent and detect substance abuse among students. Competitors are given challenges in drug-free activities for the hackathon. The person who comes up with the best solution will get a prize of Rs 50,000 and an opportunity to participate in KSUM’s Idea Grant scheme with a funding of Rs 3 lakh.
The contestants are given problems identified through a survey of 1000 students and 500 teachers of Central University Kasaragod district. Technology is needed to provide information about drug use without exposing the informant’s information. There should be a mechanism to reward those who provide such information. These solutions should be capable of comprehensively providing all the information. It should be possible to find and honour those who are doing anti-drug campaigns through social media at regular intervals. It also aims to involve voluntary organisations, institutions etc. in anti-drug campaigns.
The new technology should also be able to detect the presence of intoxication among students by observing emotional changes. In a situation where drug use among students has increased beyond control, an attempt is being made to seek the help of technology. Mafias use innovative ways to get drugs to children. Reports indicate that children are being harassed by the drug mafia even in the school premises. In addition to awareness activities from the government and school authorities, it was decided to seek the help of technology for this purpose.
