The Department of Computer Science and Engineering, in collaboration with Google Developer Groups, organised a mini-hackathon titled Code4Her as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations. A key highlight of the event was the launch of the Virtual Healthcare Assistance and Advanced Support (VHAAS) app for women, developed by student entrepreneur Mr Hemanth Krishna Vardhan (B.Tech. CSE, III- Year) . His app – Virtual Healthcare Assistance and Advanced Support (VHAAS) app focuses on enhancing women’s safety and well-being.

The event saw the presence of Dean- School of Engineering and Sciences, Prof. C V Tomy; Associate Dean-Academic Operations and Outreach, Prof. Vandana Swami; Associate Head-CSE, Dr Priyanka Singh; Faculty Advisor and Hackathon Convenor, Dr Naga Sravanthi Pupala, Student Entrepreneurs Ms Pallavi Naga Samudram and Hemanth Krishna. Out of 700 registrations, 500 participants were selected to form 150 teams. The event encompassed a competitive framework across Technical Tracks like AI/ML for Women Empowerment, Cybersecurity & Privacy for Women, and Intelligent Safety & Assistive Technologies.

Dr Priyanka Singh remarked that the mini-hackathon was a “thoughtful initiative designed to empower women by facilitating advancements in their healthcare, safety, and career trajectories.” Dr Priyanka also traced the contributions of women across technology and computing streams.

While Prof. Vanadana urged the audience to rethink the use of technology, she stated, “at the end of the day one must revisit the purpose of technology which is primarily to serve humanity.” Dean – SEAS, Prof. C V Tomy, congratulated the organisers and students for conducting and participating in a hackathon for the cause of women’s health and safety.
The Hackathon proceedings featured insightful sessions on emotional well-being by SRM AP student entrepreneur and founder of Code Tech, Ms Pallavi Naga Samudram (B.Sc. Psychology, IV-year).

This premier event was designed to encourage students to develop innovative technological solutions addressing real-world challenges faced by women through emerging technologies. The mini hackathon concluded with winners receiving cash awards of ₹3,000, ₹2,500, and ₹1,500, respectively, alongside official certificates and exclusive Google merchandise.