Odisha to Launch Month-long Cyber Security Awareness Campaign from October 18

Bhubaneswar, Oct 16 : The Odisha Government will launch a month-long statewide cyber security awareness campaign from October 18, aimed at promoting safe digital practices and educating citizens on cybercrime prevention.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will inaugurate the campaign at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, and flag off the “Cyber Rath” (Cyber Awareness Van), which will travel across districts to spread awareness.

The campaign, to be held both online and offline, will feature videos, leaflets, theme songs, and promotional materials addressing crucial issues such as child protection from cybercrimes, online frauds, sextortion, illegal SIM and bank account sales, hotel booking scams, digital arrests, and safe social media use.

Under the tagline “Stop, Verify, Be Secure” and mascot “Saira,” the initiative will engage multiple departments, including School and Mass Education, Higher Education, I&PR, Panchayati Raj, Mission Shakti, and Odia Language and Culture. Awareness sessions, speech and quiz competitions, folk performances, street plays, and rallies will be organized across schools, colleges, and communities.

Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, who chaired a high-level preparatory meeting, urged officials to make the campaign people-centric and continuous. He also emphasized the need to introduce cybersecurity education in school curricula and launch online certification courses to strengthen institutional cyber preparedness.

Citizens will be made aware of the cybercrime helpline (1930) and the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal to report online offenses promptly.

Senior officials including DGP Y.B. Khurania, CID-CB DGP Vinaytosh Mishra, and IG Sarthak Sadangi attended the meeting alongside representatives from several state departments.