Women’s Day special: 5 free mobile apps for emergency situations

With International Women’s Day round the corner on March 8, it is that time of the year when we celebrate the success and accomplishments of women achievers. It is also the time when we reflect on the key issues that thwart the goal of women empowerment and liberation. Among these issues, women safety and security continues to be the biggest roadblock on the path to women emancipation.

Although, it would require a multi-pronged strategy from the government and transformation initiatives at several levels to tackle this serious issue, smartphones can really come to rescue during times of distress. We list here five free apps that you can use as a first step to ensuring security:

1. Himmat

Delhi, which is often dubbed as the rape capital of India, has seen a steep rise in the number of crime against women in the last few years. According to popular media reports, Delhi witnessed an 18.3% rise in crime against women in 2014 as compared to 2013. As a step to make the city a safer place for women, Delhi Police in January launched a free Android-based app called, ‘Himmat.’

The Himmat app can be downloaded free of cost from the Delhi Police website - www.delhipolice.nic.in  and Google Play Store. After downloading the app, a user needs to register at the Delhi police website. The user needs to provide details like complete user name, residential address photo ID proof and up to five emergency contact numbers, to complete the registration process. On successful registration, the user gets an SMS with a download link and registration key, which needs to be entered in the registration window in the application.

Source: Delhi Police Website

In case of an emergency, the user can send an alert by shaking the phone or by the power/soft button. As soon as the distress button is pressed, it triggers a 30-second audio and video recording on the phone which is relayed to the Police Control Room. Once alerted, Delhi Police can send the nearest available police personnel for help. The app also has a feature of sending SMS alerts to minimum of five friends and relative of the user.

2.  Nirbhaya: Be Fearless

Compatible with Android platforms, Nirbhaya app can help a woman in emergency situations send a message to alert a pre-specified contact group, Facebook wall and secured web portal. Nirbhaya also has the option to use the power button or shake, both of which can send out SOS messages.

To use the app, you need to submit personal details in terms of residential details and emergency contact numbers. You can create various groups, including family members and friends, as well as add contact details of authorities, such as local police station, hospitals, helpline numbers, etc. You can also assign them a quick launch icon on your mobile home screen.

The app uses the GPS to track your location and share it to the configured group. With the app, exigencies like accident apart from attempted molestation can also be communicated through pre-defined text messages. Further, you can configure the app to send alerts to the friend nearest your location.

3. Yatramitr

Targeted at ensuring the safety of women travelling late at night via a cab/auto, Yatramitr allows family members to constantly track the user’s location. To use the app, you need to register with your mobile number and create a password. These details can then be used by your family members to login at the Yatramitr website and trace your location in real time. You can also enter the number of vehicle you are travelling in the app and that number can be viewed on the website.

The app allows you to add three numbers of family and friends, who can be alerted during emergency situations via Panic/Danger button. The message will also share your location details. Apart from ensuring your safety, the app also allows you to determine the rate of any route using Dynamic GPS and GPRS-based auto-fare calculator.

4. SafeTrac

SafeTrac is a free mobile app that is available for Android smartphones as well as basic phones that support Java. SafeTrac application installed on your mobile continuously sends in your location details to the server and allows monitoring and tracking of your journey.  With the location information, the entire trip is displayed on a map pointing to your exact location. In case of an emergency, clicking on the 'Emergency' button in the application, sends an SMS and email to the emergency contact numbers that you have registered. The app also provides proactive alerts when you approach the vicinity of 'Unsafe' spots reported by other users.

5. bSafe

bSafe allows you to set up your own safety network of friends, family and coworkers. Compatible with iOS and Android, the app is packed with a number of security features. The ‘Follow Me’ feature, which lets your contacts know your location, also has a timer. This timer will let you choose the duration of time for which your location will be visible to others. With ‘I’m here,’ you can tell selected people where you are currently. The app has a ‘Guardian Alert’ button, which helps you notify friends and family members in case you are in trouble. It also notifies about where you are with the help of GPS and what’s happening with a video. It can even set off a siren, which is optional.