Emergency app for women's safety soon

Hyderabad: A mobile-based application 'SHE SAFE' is scheduled to be launched by December. The application will be available on both Android and ioS platforms.

The app is being designed in such a way as to help the women in distress reach out to the nearby police station by the means of a 'Sake of Convenience or Safety (SOS)' on the application. The users can also access 'Margadarshaks' in case of issues like domestic violence, stalking and cyber crimes.

Yedula Krishna, general secretary of Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC), said, "The app can transmit an emergency message at the touch of a button. Apps like 'She Shuttle' and 'Hawkeye' can also be accessed via this application. Users of this app can also access the details of the safety programmes and awareness sessions that are conducted throughout the year by SCSC."

The app will also have a 'Project Safe Stay' feature, using which users can access the list of audited hostels in and around Madhapur, Gachibowli and Raidurgam along with their compliance percentage. There will be a provision to lodge complaints by hostel residents in case any valuables go missing.

'Margadarshak' feature will also be incorporated in the app. Margadarshaks are individuals who act as intermediaries to rush to or help women in distress get in touch with police, or seek any legal recourse.

"The app includes tips on cyber safety with regular updates on latest malwares and cyber trends along with helpline numbers and other related information to help victims. It is still being designed and may take some time. We are studying various features that can be incorporated for helping women in a much better way," said Krishna.

Aarthi (name changed), an IT employee in Gachibowli, said, "This is a good initiative taken by the SCSC on the women safety. Travelling by a cab allotted by the company or a private cab, one cannot guarantee the safety of the passengers, especially the women. Since we travel through cabs late night, there is a need of such an initiative whereby with just a click we can operate the emergency button."

K Kalyani, an employee of a corporate company in Begumpet, said, "I travel by the sharing private cabs. Now-a-days, there are many women who work in different sectors during early morning or late night. Such initiatives are very much in need for the women safety."

The app also forwards the location of the victim via GPS coordinates. The command control staff will also provide patrol vehicles the location of the victim. The app will also send messages to contacts on one's phone and will also divert alerts to the Whatsapp profiles of Hyderabad and Cyberabad police.