An Emergency App 112 Launched : A New Beginning To Safety And Support

Recently the government of India launched an emergency app 112 beginning a new era to ensure the safety of women and children and provide emergency help. The app was initially launched on 19 January 2019 by the Indian government to support the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS). ERSS is a Pan-India single number 112, an emergency response system for any country’s citizens in case of an emergency. The union home minister announced strict actions against the culprits of the violation of women’s safety by taking effective implementation of the Women’s Safety Projects Investigation Tracking System For Sexual Offences(ITSSO). Each state and UT were asked to designate an Emergency Response Centre (ERC) in different areas to operate emergency requests. The app is also known as “ No More R@pe” and is under the Nirbhaya funds scheme to ensure that women and children are safe. The app is mainly designed to enhance the safety of citizens and provide emergency services. The main aim of the app is to support the victims and respond to any emergency cases as quickly as possible. The app especially focuses on responding to and preventing any sexual violence based on its name ‘ no more r@pe’. This app is specially designed to ensure the safety of women and children. In case a woman feels unsafe in any area or is walking home late at night and is sacred, they can use this app and get faster emergency services according to their requirements. As the r@pe cases are increasing day by day, the government of India has taken the initiative to safeguard the safety of women and make them feel safe in their own country and area. The increase in crime has led to women feeling unsafe everywhere. They sometimes don’t even feel safe in their workplace or home. The app will help these women contact their trusted contacts or the authorities and alert them of the crime.

The app is designed to ensure safety and give a quick response to emergency cases. The main features of the app are listed below;

1. The app has a real-time tracking feature which will help in tracking the exact location of the caller. The user can share their exact location with their emergency contacts and authorities. This feature will help in ensuring the safety of an individual during an emergency case. As sometimes tracking the exact location of the person can be difficult in an emergency. The app has the current location sharing option which can help in tracking throughout the emergency and make quick responses.

2. The most critical feature of the app is instant emergency alerts. The user can send an emergency alert to the emergency contacts or the authorities in a single tap. This will help in triggering an automatic dispatch to the user’s location. This feature focuses on the efficiency of emergency interventions and ensures that the user gets the fastest response possible to ensure their safety.

3. The user can save their emergency contacts on the app which will make it easy for the user to notify their friends or family or any designated individual in an emergency case. The app will then provide information or access to any support services like the hotlines, shelters nearby, or counselling to ensure that the user gets quick connectivity with all the necessary resources available.

4. The app has a feature of incident recording and documentation that will help in creating panoramic records of the events for further investigation. The app provides a feature of documentation of any incidents. In case an individual has experienced or witnessed a crime taking place, he/she can directly file a report on the app with law enforcement and seek justice.

5. If an individual fears for their reputation or stigma and is afraid to make a public report of the crime, the app has a feature of anonymous reporting. The anonymous reporting feature on the app will help the user file a report of an incident without even revealing their identity. The main aim of this feature is to encourage people to file reports of crime rather than fear the outcomes. The reports will be made anonymously on the app the ensure the safety of the reporter.

6. The app has a discrete activation option that will help the user understand the need for privacy in any dangerous situation or threat. This option will help the setting up of subtle gestures and hidden notifications which will help the user to alert the emergency contacts or authorities to get emergency services. This feature will ensure the safety of the user without drawing attention to possible threats. This feature will a person in a dangerous situation who cannot publicly seek help.

7. The app also has a community support network that will the victims of crime with counselling and proper assistance. This feature will help the user to connect with local support networks that will help in building a connection between an individual and the organisation that will develop strength for the victims of crime.

What are the implications for public safety?

1. The emergency app 112 has an enhanced emergency response system that will reduce the time between the emergency alert and services. It will help the user to send quick alerts of any emergency cases with their locations to emergency services or contacts and avail immediate response or actions.

2. The app has a feature of real-time location tracking that will allow explicit identification of the location shared by the user in case opt an emergency. The feature is one of the most critical features as every second of the life counts and is with saving. This feature will help in reducing further delays in emergency responses.

3. The app can store anonymous reports of any incidents and provide justice to the user. The app will help the user to make an anonymous report of any experience or witness of the crime without fearing public appearance.

4. The app also provides educational resources for personal safety and self-defence awareness. The app has a feature of educational values and awareness for the user to take measures to protect themselves or help others in case of emergency.

The 112 emergency app is designed to help and support public safety. It will contribute to emergency responses to emergency cases and support the victims of crime with the help of community support. The initiative is taken by the Indian government to make sure that every individual in the country feels safe and protected.