In a First, Blockchain Technology Tapped to Address Issues of Migrant Labourers

KOCHI:
In a first-of-its-kind hackathon in India, developers will use Blockchain Technology to try and find solutions to the many challenges faced by migrant labourers across the country.
Maker Village Kochi will host the “BlockthonForChange”, organised in partnership with the US Consulate General, Chennai, Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) and Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), on December 21 and 22.
Around 40 inventors, software developers, programmers, designers, engineers, entrepreneurs and start-ups from various parts of the country are participating in the hackathon.
Migrant labourers are often a disadvantaged and vulnerable group because of social, economic and cultural issues associated with migration. In India, massive interstate migration of labourers warrants immediate attention both at the ground level and the policy level, said Prasad Balakrishnan Nair, CEO, Maker Village.
“We have selected 20 teams from the applications received. These teams will be making a presentation on their projects at the “BlockathonForChange”. We are giving them awareness programmes to help them develop comprehensive solutions to mitigate the problems related to migrant labour,” he said.
The participants will compete for cash prizes worth Rs 1,75,000. All solutions developed during the hackathon will remain the intellectual property of the developers, who will be free to build on these after the hackathon. Ernakulam district collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla will inaugurate the valedictory function on December 22. IBM representative Dr Dileep Krishnaswami will deliver the keynote address.