Safety tips for women and families in India — from travel safety, going out at night, using safety apps, and home security.

It is difficult to describe security in India in one sentence. Even within the same Delhi metropolitan area, the Gated Society complex in Gurgaon and the alleys of the traditional market in Old Delhi are completely different environments, and the experiences during day and night, weekdays and festival periods are also greatly different. In actual experience, there is not much to feel threatened within the areas where Korean families usually live - societies, international schools, large malls, offices. The problem is preparing for the moment you leave that route.

That's why I always recommend three principles to new families.

• predictable route— Create a living radius centered around proven areas and facilities, and familiarize yourself with unfamiliar areas with a companion during the day.
• a record-breaking move— Defaults to a mode of transportation whose vehicle, driver, and route are recorded in the app.
• status of contact— Keep location sharing and emergency contacts turned on at all times, so your family can be notified right away if something happens.

The starting point of the emergency communication network is India.Integrated emergency report number 112no see. India operates a system that connects police, fire, and emergency services to 112 through the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), so you only need to remember this number when you are in an emergency. It is safer to save existing individual numbers as well.

Don't just save the number. During your first week in office, get your family together and simulate "Who would call where in this situation?" The way the helpline operates may change, so please check the Indian government's official website for the most up-to-date information.

In India, the safety of women and their families is largely determined ‘on the move’. Fortunately, Delhi NCR is well-equipped with app-based ride hailing and subway infrastructure, so travel risks can be greatly reduced by following the rules for each method.

Uber · Ola — 30 second confirmation routine before boarding

• When dispatchedVehicle license plate, vehicle type, and driver photoCompare it with the app screen and then board. If the license plate is different, I will never ride it.
• provided by the appBoarding confirmation PIN functionIf you turn it on, you must confirm your 4-digit number with the driver to start driving, eliminating the risk of getting into the wrong car.
• Immediately after boardingShare Trip functionSend real-time directions to your family. Also check the location of the emergency button within the app in advance.
• The seat isback seatThis is the basic rule. If the route differs significantly from the map, immediately ask the reason and, if necessary, get off in a crowded place.

Delhi Metro — Actively utilize women-only carriages

Delhi Metro isThe front carriage of the train is a women-only coach.It is operated by and is marked in pink on the platform floor and information boards. It is operated so effectively that men are subject to crackdowns and fines when boarding, so it is recommended to use women-only compartments during rush hours or at night. Security checks and CCTV are always in operation when entering the station, so the perceived safety is high.

Autorickshaw — Convenient during the day, app at night

Auto-rickshaws are useful for short distance travel during the day, but it is best to avoid grabbing a ride on the street at night. At night, if you call an auto rickshaw using the Uber or Ola app, the driver and route record are recorded, making it much safer. For families who make a lot of daily trips, such as commuting to and from school, hiring a dedicated driver is a realistic alternative, but here are tips for hiring and managing them.Guide to hiring drivers in IndiaThis is covered in detail.

I often get asked, “What time is it okay?”, but when you live in a local area, safety at night is not about the time of day.Where, how, and in what condition do you travel?You will find out that it is a problem. Even at 9 o'clock at night, a restaurant in a mall and a deserted side street are completely different environments.

• The route is a bright main road.— Use streets with streetlights and CCTV cameras, and avoid dark, deserted shortcuts, vacant lots, and roads next to construction sites, even if the distance is short.
• Minimize walking sections— At night, the rule is to drive to the destination door, and the drop-off point is also designated right in front of the entrance.
• Departure/arrival sharing— Make it a habit to notify the family group chat room when you leave and when you arrive. Although it may not seem like a big deal, it is the most effective rule in practice.
• Drinks in sight— Whether at a cafe or a party, order new drinks that were left unattended while you were away. This is a rule that is common all over the world, but the more unfamiliar the environment, the more strictly it is worth following.
• Prohibition on returning home alone after meeting— After a late meeting, we head home in the app vehicle in the same direction, and exchange arrival confirmation messages with each other.
• Match the local tone— There is no need to change your clothes or behavior excessively, but when going out at night or visiting a traditional market or old town, you can reduce unnecessary attention by matching the surroundings, such as taking a scarf with you.

If a stranger persistently follows you or talks to you, do not respond and go to the nearest person.Shop, security post, mall entranceLike, going into a place where there are people and CCTV is a priority. You can call 112 on the spot or report it through the app.

Before smartphones were a means of payment in Indian life,The most powerful safety equipmentno see. Because location sharing, emergency reporting, and movement records can all be handled with a single phone, it is recommended that you set up the following functions on the phones of all family members in the first week of your new job.

Add these two things and you're done. First, the smartphoneEmergency SOS shortcut functionPlease register your spouse's number and 112 (by repeatedly pressing the power button, etc.). Second, the phone battery is safe, so when going out at night,auxiliary batteryMake it a habit to take care of it. The moment the phone is turned off, location sharing, app calling, and emergency reporting are all disabled.

In India, half of a family's safety is determined by which neighborhood and type of house they choose. Basic recommendations for Korean families are:Gated Society with 24-hour securityno see. Visitor registration is done at the entrance of the complex, and CCTV and patrols are in operation within the complex, so the management burden is much less than that of individual houses. The society’s access control and overall living rules are as follows:India Apartment Society Life A to ZThis is covered in detail.

Security checklist before contracting a house

• Complex front and back gatesSecurity presence and visitor registration procedures— Make sure delivery and repair technicians are recorded.
• Main passageways, parking lots, and elevatorsWhether CCTV is installed.
• If you are from the lower classWindow grills (iron bars) and balcony locks— In India, low-rise window grilles are nowhere near standard, so if they don't exist, we negotiate their installation.
• entranceDoor chain/auxiliary locking deviceAvailability — If not available, discuss with the landlord when moving in to add it.

Life security habits after moving in

• many societiesVisitor management apps like MyGateUse . When a visitor or delivery arrives, an approval request is made through the app, so a great deal of security is ensured by simply not approving unknown visits.
• When the doorbell ringsCheck via intercom or door view before opening the doorAnd repair technicians and inspectors who have not made a reservation will have their identities verified through the security office.
• When hiring full-time personnel such as housekeepers or drivers, please contact the local police station.Police VerificationTake advantage of the system. Both Delhi and Gurgaon police operate employee identity registration procedures, and the basic requirement is to keep records in writing along with a copy of the identity card.
• Do not leave spare keys with outsiders, and change door lock passwords whenever personnel are replaced.

Being careful on your own and creating a safety system as a family are two different issues. Especially for families with children, it is important to create a system for commuting to and from school.

Child going to school and going out

• If you use a school busWhether a bus attendant (attendant) is present and the boarding and alighting point, and ensure that the pick-up person for drop-off is the person registered with the school.
• To the childHome address, parent phone number, child helpline 1098Have them memorize and repeatedly practice the behavior rule, “If you get lost, ask the security guard or store employee for help.”
• Even if it is just a playground, it is a rule that children in lower grades are accompanied by a guardian or helper.

Common routine for spouse and family

• the whole familyAlways-on location sharingTurn on and create group chat room rules to notify departure and arrival when going out.
• We share each other's schedules once a week so we know roughly who is where and when. In unfamiliar environments, this ‘loose grasp’ determines the speed of response in an emergency.
• If you are connected to the expatriate community and the Korean community network, you will receive local security news and advisories the fastest. In addition,Save the contact information of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to IndiaAlso, remember that in case of an incident or accident, you can receive help through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ consular call center (24 hours a day).

Lastly, targeting your family is as important as your physical safety.Phone, QR, and visit fraudno see. How will your spouse and children respond to calls or visits from home?Types of Scams in India and PreventionWe have organized them by type, so we recommend that you read them together. Safety rules are not learned overnight. In the first month of taking office, if the family starts making habits one by one together, the anxiety of living in India will change into a 'manageable daily routine' faster than you think.