2 UP school students create self-defence sandals for women: 'SOS, location and audio recording'

The safety sandal has also garnered recognition from the Science and Technology Department of the Government of India.

In a bid to enhance women’s safety, two school students from Uttar Pradesh have developed an innovative sandal equipped with advanced security features. The creation, which combines technology with practicality, has drawn attention for its potential to provide protection during emergencies.

The students, Amrit Tiwari and Komal Jaiswal, from RPIC School in Siswa Bazar, Maharajganj district, shared details of their invention with News18. The safety sandal includes a concealed button under the toe area that, when pressed, sends an SOS alert to pre-programmed recipients, such as family members or friends. The alert shares the wearer’s real-time location and an audio recording of the surrounding environment.

Explaining the mechanism, Amrit Tiwari told the Local18 team, “We have developed an application that connects the technology embedded in the sandal to a smartphone. This ensures the wearer can instantly notify others in times of distress.” He further revealed that they are working on adding a camera to the design, which would enable the sandal to capture visuals along with sound and location data.

Komal Jaiswal highlighted another crucial feature of the sandal. “One of the sandals in a pair is capable of generating enough electricity to harm an attacker, providing immediate defence without endangering the wearer,” she said.

Remarkably, this innovation comes at an affordable price of Rs 2,500 per pair, making it accessible to a wider audience. Jaiswal emphasised that the product is designed to be easy to use for women of all ages, ensuring it meets the practical needs of users during emergencies.

The safety sandal has also garnered recognition from the Science and Technology Department of the Government of India. The department has expressed interest in the invention, which marks a significant step forward in leveraging technology for personal safety.

Over the past two decades, various innovations such as pepper sprays, rape whistles, and SOS buttons in cabs have been developed to enhance women’s safety. However, this sandal stands out not only for its multifunctional design but also for the fact that it has been conceptualised and created by young students.