Jharkhand's women, here's power to you to protect yourself.
The state government, which is progressing towards mobile governance, on Wednesday gifted a mobile app called Shakti to the fair brigade, thus arming them with a weapon against any kind of harassment, teasing and abuse.
The app, which was launched by chief minister Raghubar Das on the concluding day of Jharkhand State Police Duty Meet at JAP-1 grounds, will allow women to get in touch with police or family members or friends in case of any emergency.
To start with, it can be used by the residents of some areas of steel city Jamshedpur.
On the occasion, Das also floated the much-awaited Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), which will help in detection and destruction of sleeping cell of terrorists in the state. The logo and uniforms of the personnel were unveiled.
The unveiling of the app was hi-tech too with the chief minister just touching an icon on an Android phone provided by IG (organised crime) Sampat Meena. A host of senior IPS officers and police personnel were present at the programme.
Developed by Jharkhand Space Application Centre and Police Data Centre, the app was the first-of-its-kind safety tool provided by the police to the state's women.
Elated, the chief minister announced an award of Rs 1 lakh for the team that developed the app.
"A safety app for women on which several developed states had spent lakhs has been developed for free by our police officers with the help of local expertise. It will help save women and girls, who are often targeted by hooligans. I announce an award of Rs 1 lakh for the team that designed Shakti," Das said.
IG Meena explained that the Shakti app would help women reach out to the police control room and well-wishers in case of any problem.
"They can get in touch with police through the app that has to be downloaded on smartphones. It is available on Google Play Store. For trial, the app will first start offering services in seven police station areas of Jamshedpur - Bistupur, Sonari, Sakchi, Kadma, Sidgoda, Sitaramdera and Golmuri. Gradually the service will be available across the state."
The chief minister chose the occasion to highlight the importance of ATS in the state.
"The rise in number of arrests of people associated with terrorist activities and detection of sleeper cells in the state suggest that terrorists are trying to spread their base in this state. Hence, ATS has been raised to put a check on their activities," Das said.
He added that at present, the squad would operate from the premises of the special task force (STF) in Dhurwa and would have 38 police personnel under the leadership of an inspector of the special task force.
Later, a police release said that in the long run, ATS would function under a SP-rank officer and would have six deputy superintendents and 11 inspectors. It will also get legal adviser, hardware engineer, data base administrators, mobile communication specialists and cyber traffic specialist.
Earlier, prizes were distributed among the winners of the police duty meet. The CID, which had organised the event, became the overall champion.
Will the Shakti app help check crimes against women? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
