Bhubaneswar, May 20: To strengthen student safety, the Higher Education Department has directed all universities and colleges to ensure the installation and use of the ‘Shaktishree’ mobile app among students, especially girl students. The department has issued letters to university registrars and college principals in this regard.

The app offers several safety-related features including SOS assistance, live location sharing, safety check-ins, emergency calling, counselling support, and important institutional updates. Students can also report emergencies or unsafe situations through the app, with complaints reaching both institutions and the department for quick action.

Students will have to register using details such as their name, SAMS ID, registration number, registered mobile number, and emergency contact numbers. The app will provide 24×7 support services.

The initiative gained momentum after the death of an FM College student in Balasore last year. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had officially launched the Shaktishree app earlier this month. The department has now asked institutions to widely promote the app through notices, orientation programmes, classrooms, and WhatsApp groups.