Vadodara Sees Launch Of Safety App For Women: Report

Safety app for women: Using public transport can be no short of a mentally and physically draining ordeal for a woman. An Indian university incubated a start-up that has developed an app called SafeSavaari. It aims at ensuring a safe commute for women in the city of Vadodara. The app will be launched on October 19.

The mobile application reportedly aims to make public transport safer for women. Plus, according to the startup which backs the app, it is not difficult to use. Just a simple scan and the user can get details of the ride that they are availing. The details will include the name of the driver, vehicle owner's details, etc.

As per reports, the app will be first launched for autorickshaws in Vadodara, after that they plan on rolling it out across the state.

The app reportedly allows users to share these details with their loved ones. If one does not have people to share their location or details with, the app will let them share the details with pre-registered trusted contacts and even multicast SOS distress call to them.

Before developing the app, the students at MS University, which is behind the project, surveyed public transportation. The survey covered responses from 400 women in Vadodara and Bharuch.

Batul Millwala, a final year student of BBA at ITM Vocational University told the Times of India that the study done by the students on 400 women suggested that 70 percent of women do not want to travel alone in public transportation and 50 percent prefer calling their families or friends to keep them updated. Few of them even pretend to be on a call, just to feel safe. While 40 percent of women would rather avoid travelling in one.

Over the years, several state governments have taken initiative to reduce crime or increase the alertness when it comes to crime against women. There are a few apps that can be used by women in situations of distress.

In 2018, the State government of Gujarat had launched an emergency helpline number for women in distress. The mobile application named 181 Abhayam had features like a panic button to send alerts to the nearby police stations. The pictures taken on the spot was also admissible proof.

• Eyewatch SOS for women, a woman safety app that is jointly developed by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and a private company. The focus is to ensure the safety of women while commuting on trains between Churchgate and Virar. It can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple Appstore.
• Raj Mahila Suraksha, another safety app for women was launched by the Rajasthan Commission for Women. In any case of danger, the person needs to shake and tap the mobile thrice which will send an alert to the nearest police station, the women's commission and to a friend or family number.
• I Feel Safe, this safety app was released by Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust in Hyderabad. This app does not need an internet connection or GRPS to function to send alerts. It has a safety ka power button, which if tapped on five times will set an alarm. It will not just track the person's location but also send it to their emergency contacts and an emergency call centre team.

Suggested Reading:

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