The Chennai suburb residents are  resorting to pepper sprays as self defense mechanism. Though popular in foreign countries, the idea of pepper spray was not much marketed in India. However, times are changing and the women population are switching on to pepper sprays as a quick means of self defense taking into account their increasing responsibilities to the society. A seminar popularising the use of pepper sprays were conducted along East Coast Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai. The residents have placed orders with the police for pepper sprays. “The response is encouraging. Senior citizens living alone in beach bungalows are asking for the spray. Those staying in working women hostels, members of residents’ welfare associations and IT professionals are also showing keen interest. A girls’ hostel has placed order for procuring 50 spray cans,”said the assistant commissioner of police K N Murali who chaired the seminars.