December 16 Gang rape victim’s parents have come forward with a step to take preventive measures for the women in order to protect themselves. They unveiled a comprehensive portable self defence device for women, ‘Bhavani’; the device resembling a baton would act as a protective shell for women when targeted by stalkers and can be easily carried in a handbag.
The device with an inbuilt GPRS helps trace the exact location of the victim along with the other functions including a non-lethal stun gun, a strobe light, a panic button (when pressed, will send five SOS SMSs with GPS location, to five pre-fed members), a 10-feet throw distance pepper spray, an active voice call to the first number and a Swiss knife and an a two-feet collapsible Baton.
President Pranab Mukherjee speaking elsewhere said women’s empowerment, their equality and dignity should not be made an unapproachable goal but should be bestowed as one of their sacred rights. In his speech, the President also said that the time has come to change the societal perceptions and attitudes posing a hurdle in the development of women in the society for which a collective introspection was needed.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh contended that India never had restrictions imposed on women and said that women like Maharani Lakshmibai should be made an inspiration for the new generation.On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Mr Singh spoke at the Delhi Police’s ‘Say No To Fear’ event which witnessed approximately 5,000 girls who took self-defence training from the force, displaying their skills.
While crediting his success to his mother and wife, Mr Singh turned nostalgic and said that India follows a tradition where man always bows before women power in the way the names of goddesses are taken before the names of gods; only then the prayer is complete.
Adding that women have played an important role whether it is in the freedom struggle or in the field of knowledge, Mr Singh said that restrictions have never been imposed on the women of the country.
