Free mobile app for women’s safety launched in Kochi

Kochi: Ernakulam, a 100 per cent literate district, will soon be “cent per cent safe” for women, said Union Minister Prof. K.V. Thomas here on Monday.

He was launching a mobile app ‘Help me on Mobile’, a platform introduced by the Indian Women’s Network and the Vanitha Jagratha Samithi, which has been constituted by the Kerala Women’s Commission.

“Despite having stringent laws and a vigilant police force, atrocities against women and children are on the rise. Increasing violence against women in the state and metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi creates apprehension. Women’s safety can’t be ensured only through laws and regulations. Support of women groups like Vanitha Jagratha Samithi is crucial,” the minister remarked.

The Vanitha Jagratha Samithis set up in city corporations, municipalities and panchayats, all divisions and wards of local bodies, will provide legal assistance and support for women who are victims of violence.

The newly launched mobile app allows the location of a woman in distress to be tracked and will send panic alerts to chosen family, friends and police in emergency situations. By pressing a button, pre-recorded messages like ‘I am here, I need help’ will be sent to numbers on the selected list together with the user’s location.

The application is developed by OnMobile, a telecom VAS service provider. Women’s Commission member Lisy Jose delivered the keynote address. Mayor Tony Chammany, deputy mayor, B. Bhadra and Hibi Eden, MLA, also spoke.