New Delhi: After launching a mobile phone-based application "Himmat", the Delhi Police is looking to come out with a “Himmat Whatsapp Group” meant for those females who use public transport regularly.
The group will be soon launched by the Delhi Police. Before taking a ride in auto, taxi or a bus, the female passengers can send a photo of the number plate of the vehicle, to the group. Moreover, a woman can also send the photograph of the auto, taxi or the bus driver, to the group.
Police officials said no auto, bus or taxi driver can stop the female passengers of taking the photo of the number plate. If he does so, the lady can lodge a complaint to the police.
The “Himmat” app has already hit 27,000 downloads in just one month and more than 4710 women and their parents have registered their names and contact numbers on this app.The Himmat mobile app has been especially designed for the benefit of woman commuters using public transport.
Here's how it works: After downloading the app, a new user has to register with the Delhi Police website by sharing their name, mobile number and that of a minimum of two relatives/friends.
Once the User registers, the user will get a SMS on mobile number given at the time of registration with a download link and registration key. User has to enter this key in the registration window in the application. This is a one-time process.
"In case of an emergency, the user can send an alert by shaking her phone or by pressing the power button/soft button. As soon as the distress button is pressed, it will trigger a 30-second audio and video recording on the phone which will be relayed to the Police Control Room, and the victim will get a call back from the PCR," said Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi.
Bassi had described “Himmat” as the first integrated women safety app in the country. Police said “Himmat” will help women contact police in the quickest possible time in an emergency.
A police official said though the app has been designed for women, it can also be used by any smartphone user to contact police in the event of a crime.
The user will be asked to feed five emergency contact numbers of friends or relatives into the app's data base. When an SOS call is made, a message will be automatically sent to these five numbers.
"In this way, not only police, but the user's relatives and friends too will be able to come to her rescue," the official said.
"This app is currently available on Android platform, since a survey has revealed that most working women use Android based phone. In due course this facility will be extended to other operating systems as well," said a senior Delhi Police official.
The Home Minister has asked the Delhi Police to make the app available on iOS platform so that iPhone users can also use it. The Himmat app can be downloaded free of cost from the Delhi Police website - www.Delhipolice.Nic.In and also from the Google Play Store.
The application also has a help section which has details about how to use each section of the app. Users are requested to follow the instructions there.It also has 'Safety Tips section' and First aid tips for women to help them in times of crisis.
In 2014, 11,000 women have used 100 number facility while 49,717 women have used number 1096, the anti-stalking and obscene calls helpline, and 1410 women have used the women helpline 1091.
