Actor Preity Zinta recently launched Kavach Safety, a safety service for women. It is a discreet service that leverages the latest in mobile technology and offers a full range of support services, backed by a leading team of crisis experts.
Women who aspire to do many things are often held back by friends and family stating that it isn't safe. This tends to limit a woman's choices. According to the actor, the project, which has been ongoing for five years, hopes to encourage women to pursue anything they want as they will have Kavach to ensure their safety.
The Kavach Safety is an emergency response service that assures safety at the press of a button. It hopes to prevent incidents and help victims of crime through medical services, insurance claims management and trauma support. While we aren't sure as to how successful Kavach will be, here are some apps that strive to ensure women's safety and have received high ratings for the same.
My Safetipin: (Rating 4.6) This app rates the safeness of an area or location. It is particularly useful if you have just moved cities, the app allows you to navigate a place safely. It will tell you about the safety of the location, accessibility of public transport, how crowded is the area, can others in the area see you, is there a proper place to walk and is there a police station or private security nearby and so on. The app has received good reviews—“Safety with simplicity! I no longer need to worry about late night commute with Safetipin. It helps me go around the city without worrying about what the time of the day it is or what area it is. At least, I am aware of my surroundings!” says one. “My work demands me to travel all over the country and during night hours. This app helps me move around safely as well as keeps my loved ones at peace as they can track me and be assured that I'm safe and sound. A must-have app for every woman, I would say,” said another.
Chilla: (Rating 4.8) This is a women's safety app that gets activated with a shrill scream or by pressing the power button five times. The app is useful in case of eve teasing/ harassment or sexual/ physical attack. Once the app is active, it sends message to a designated family member/friend with the location. It sends an email with an audio recording and makes a phone call. The scream-effect removes the hassle of unlocking the phone and finding the app when in distress. The app can be modified to cater to the safety of men too. Reviews say: “Great application .What I loved most about this app is its simplicity. Good work team”. “Just no comparison of its awesomeness. This technology has beaten 'OK Google'. Use it for your safety anywhere whenever you feel unsafe on buses taxi cabs cars. Amazing replication alert along with Google map link also sends a written address.”
Shake2Safety: (Rating 4.3) This is another application that will send an SMS alert or make a phone call without you having to unlock the phone. All you need to do is shake the phone or press the power button four times. It will also work if your screen is locked.
Himmat: (Rating 4.7) The app is by Delhi police for women in Delhi. When an SOS alert is raised by the Himmat app, an audio-visual is sent to the Delhi Police's control room. They then send help from the nearest police station to help the person. “Just a helping hand. Every girl should install it. Thank you Delhi Police.” and “Very good app. Every girl or women should download this app.” are the kind of reviews the app has received.
Smart24*7: (Rating 4.3) This is a personal safety app for everyone. Alerts will be sent to loved ones if you decide to use the panic button. It helps you get help from the nearest police station, fire department and hospitals. The app can also record audio and take pictures of the situation and share it with the police. It also allows your friends and family to track your travel and check on you. “One of the best personal safety and security application. Provides integrated services of police, fire and ambulance” and “One of the best personal safety app I have used till now. Get prompt response from the service provider every time I requested. Keep it up team smart24x7” says the review.
