SOS on hand

IN a state beset with violence against women and a disturbing safety record, there was a dire need to evolve a mechanism that could bolster a sense of security. Haryana, to its credit, stepped away from the standard lip-service script to step up its act by launching the ‘Durga Shakti’ software application, a Haryana Police initiative, a year ago. The application has since gained traction, with 1.38 lakh users. Available on Android and Apple play stores, the application offers fuss-free registration and an SOS panic button, flashing the location coordinates of a woman in distress to the Police Control Room. A call can be initiated if a woman is stuck somewhere and needs assistance. The fact that 48 FIRs have been registered so far, 21 preemptive actions taken and 497 cases resolved is encouraging; however, it is also indicative of the growing fear and discomfort among women, and the need to maximise the application outreach.  

A plethora of safety laws has, sadly, done little to reassure women, especially in the absence of swift police response. Often times, the police is either unresponsive or inconspicuous when most needed. Across India, the safety of women remains an abiding challenge. Though ‘Durga Shakti’ is meant for Haryana, women are reaching for it in large numbers in Punjab, Himachal, Chandigarh and Delhi, and as far as Rajasthan and UP (respective state control room is alerted). The nationwide network of helpline numbers and safety applications give rise to giddy optimism, but can’t be the sharpest knife in the drawer. 

The road ahead is long and pitted. While wider diffusion of awareness among women is essential, the fate of their safety cannot be hitched to the application alone. As the user base broadens, there is every possibility of derailment of the objective. The police can’t be stationed at every nook and cranny. Rapid response teams and control room links must be augmented and strengthened. An effective, sensitised police force is the key, besides smaller, region-specific cover groups. In the absence of a tireless band of police personnel, all efforts will be rendered unproductive.