‘Shakti’ app, pick-and-drop scheme launched

Fazilka, December 6

In view of the gang rape and murder of a vet in Telangana, the district police have launched “Shakti” app and a free pick-and-drop scheme today in a bid to prop up safety for women.

The women can install “Shakti” app, which offers a provision to send messages and their location to 10 selected contacts and the police in case of an emergency”, said district Senior Superintendent of Police Bhupinder Singh after launching the app at police headquarters. If women are not able to give a call, then all they have to do is shake the mobile to send a message through the app. The police vehicle would reach the location immediately to offer help to the woman in trouble. “Fazilka is perhaps the second district after Ludhiana to introduce the scheme in Punjab,” said the SSP.

Besides this, the police have launched a pick-and-drop facility for the women here. Under the scheme, any woman who is unable to find a ride home, particularly during late evening or at night, can call the police on a mobile number, which was released today.

“The police vehicle ferrying women employees will be picked and dropped at specific locations mentioned by them,” said Bhupinder Singh.

The PCR vehicles will be pressed into service. The SSP also flagged off three vehicles to be deployed in Fazilka, Abohar and Jalalabad towns of the district.

The SSP said the police would organise seminars in schools and colleges to create awareness among the women against the crime and the schemes.

Complying with a demand of a town resident, the SSP directed to deploy two police personnels near Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Fazilka, where about 2,000 girls are studying, to prevent eve teasing. — OC