As Additional DGP (Women’s Safety Wing) of Telangana, Ms Swati Lakra, ensured the security of women – both in the cyber as well as in the physical world. She underlined the importance of protecting adolescents and young girls, especially in college as they are more vulnerable to predators. She set up safety clubs for them. She is presently posted as ADGP TSSP Battalion.
Because of increased internet usage owing to online classes and work-from-home policies, cybercrime cases peaked during the pandemic. Ms Lakra started a Cyber Congress making school children and young adults aware of cyber safety through online interactive sessions.
Over 3,300 children in 1650 Government schools across 33 districts were trained to become student Cyber Ambassadors with appropriate knowledge on Cyber Safety to spread among their peers.
TRAINING IMPARTED
The project instils the responsibility to extend this safety net to others in the schools and community. The scheme received positive feedback from parents, kids, and teachers.
“What began as a pilot project grew into a full-fledged sustainable program, which inspired us to collaborate with the Education department. We began with government schools, but now the concept is being implemented in all of the state’s schools, both public and private,” Ms. Lakra shared in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.
SAFETY CLUBS FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN
Ms. Lakra and her team established ‘Safety Club’ for girls and women in all Telangana colleges. Members of the ‘club’ will serve as change agents and a link between youngsters in need of assistance and grievance redressal systems (Police, Legal Aid, Public Health, Counselling, and others).
The club will concentrate on giving young children the opportunity to understand various social concerns by involving them in the process and empowering them to become community police and engage in the preventive measures and issues relevant to females.
COLLABORATION WITH EDUCATION DEPT.
Women Safety Wing collaborated with the Telangana Education Department, principals and faculty members to raise awareness among students at all government and private degree colleges, postgraduate colleges, and professional colleges.
“After the screening process was absorbed into the Safety Clubs, potential students were streamlined. All students in the safety clubs participated in a five-day Train the Trainer (TOT) program,” shared the officer.
