Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday launched the android-based Durga Shakti app of the Haryana Police.

Facts :

• The app will enable women to seek immediate help of the police through Women Helpline Number 1091 in case of an emergency.
• The mobile app was launched at the ‘Ek Aur Sudhar Programme’ organised at Indradhanush Auditorium, Panchkula.
• After downloading the app, any woman or girl who is in distress could send information along with her GPS location to the Women Helpline number of her district through WhatsApp just by pressing a red button on the app.
• It is mandatory to register once on the mobile app.
• The victim does not need to speak. Once the red button is pressed, she can send information about her GPS location, blood group and other details in form of a WhatsApp message to the Women Helpline number. The victim can also speak to the operator at the helpline number.
• The Chief Minister also flagged off 50 new vehicles for women police stations in the state on Thursday. Director General of Police BS Sandhu said that these vehicles have been allotted to ‘Durga Shakti Rapid Action Force’ to check incidents of eve teasing and other crime related to women and girls in the state.

Analysis :

• The app act as a better communication tool between the victim and police,the PCR vehicle could use the GPS location received on WhatsApp to ascertain the victim’s whereabouts.
• The police could also send messages and tips about women’s safety and security to the users of the app.
• In case, a woman or girl lands into an emergency situation outside the state, she can inform the Haryana Police through the Durga Shakti app.
• The aim to reduce the response time of the police to provide help to women in distress.
• The police should make girls and women aware about the app so that they could use it for getting police help at the time of a crisis.
• The measures for women’s safety in the city should go beyond the app and a multi-pronged approach is needed.
• We need to work with the men in our families, starting from the time they are little boys. Gender sensitisation is a must to ensure women safety.