New Delhi: The parents of December 16 gangrape victim unveiled a comprehensive portable self defence device for women. The device, named “Bhavani”, would act like a protective shell for women if they are targeted by stalkers. The device resembles a baton and can be easily carried in a handbag.

The device has five functions, a siren with a strobe light, a non-lethal stun gun, a 10-feet throw distance pepper spray, a panic button which, when pressed, will send five SOS SMSs with GPS location, to five pre-fed members, an active voice call to the first number, a Swiss knife and an a two-feet collapsible Baton. It has an inbuilt GPRS that will help trace the exact location of the victim.

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Speaking elsewhere, President Pranab Mukherjee said women’s empowerment, and their dignity and equality should not be made a “distant goal or fond aspiration”, but should be bestowed on them as one of their “sacred” rights. The President in his speech said it was time for a “collective introspection” for changing those “societal perceptions” and attitudes that pose a hurdle in the development of women in society. Contending that India has never imposed restrictions on women, Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said women like Maharani Lakshmibai should be brought out of the pages of history and made an inspiration for the new generation.

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Speaking at the Delhi Police’s ‘Say No To Fear’ event where nearly 5,000 girls, who had received self-defence training from the force, displayed their skills on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Mr Singh turned nostalgic for a while as he gave credit for his success to his mother and wife. Mr Singh said India has had a tradition where man always bows before women power. “Even while taking the names of our gods, we first take the names of goddesses and then the prayer is complete,” he said.

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“Women have played an important role whether it is in the freedom struggle or in the field of knowledge,” he said.

“We have never imposed any restriction on our women if that would have been the case then Maharani Lakshmibai might have not taken part in the freedom struggle with her newborn kid tied to her back,” he added.