The recent incidents of gang-rape in Hyderabad and Ranchi have prompted many men in the steel city to make their mobile numbers public on social media and urge women to give them a call in case of emergency.

Though some appreciated the thought that drove these young men to extend help, others wondered how safe it was to call a stranger in a distress situation.

Many others considered it as a complete breakdown of law and order where women couldn’t feel safe in their own city.

Since the gang-rape and murder of a young vet in Hyderabad, steel city residents, ranging from college students to businessmen and social workers, have been posting their mobile numbers on their social media accounts to let women know they could seek help whenever they needed.

Driven by a common interest of making the city safer for women, a number of volunteers have decided to form a group, submit their identity proof, address proof and contact numbers to the police and make the initiative a bit more transparent.

Shaken by the brutal violence against the woman in Hyderabad, Sarabjeet Singh (42), manager of a city-based restaurant, took to Facebook and posted his mobile number on his timeline.

“If we are adult enough to vote and elect ministers, we can also make our city safe for women. Instead of waiting for a new law, it’s better to extend a helping hand,” Singh said.

“We too have sisters, daughters, mothers and wives. Who would want their loved ones to be in danger? I am so heartbroken by these incidents that I thought to do something myself. If any woman is stranded anywhere at night, she can give me a call,” he added.

Singh met with other like-minded people for the first time on Sunday to discuss ways to make the new system transparent.

Singh said a group of 15 people had decided to approach police with the idea to earn the trust of people.

Social worker Hari Singh Rajput, who had also volunteered on Facebook, said people had more faith in do-gooders than police.

“This is a small city and women usually prefer to be at home or with their families at night. However, a situation can arise where they need to go out alone. If they call police during an emergency, it is unlikely that they would come. Even if they do, the society will start judging the girl if a police car drops her home at night,” Rajput said.

Singh and Rajput’s Facebook posts had been followed by a raft of similar offers of help.

Admitting the pitfalls of the system, both Singh and Rajput said the volunteers should keep police in the loop to prevent crime in the garb of offering assistance.