Najma stresses on empowerment of women with digital technologies
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, December 05 2018: Women of the North East region, particularly the women of Manipur are highly talented and they deserve to be fully empowered with digital technology to acquire aplace in this highly competitive world.

This was stated by Governor Dr Najma Heptulla at the launch of Digital Literacy and Online Safety Programme at Sangai Conference Hall, Imphal Hotel today.

The programme is a Nationwide campaign aiming to digitally empower young girls and women and sensitize them about the digital technology apart from capacity building to help navigate in the internet space.

The objective of the campaign is to empower them to protect themselves and actively respond to issues and incidents like cyber crimes.

Dr Najma, who graced the programme as the chief guest said that the Central Government recently launched the Digital North East Vision Document 2022 at Guwahati on August 18 this year with the objective of improving digital connectivity and infuse digital literacy in the North East States, in tandem with other States of the country.

The Central Government's flagship programme 'Digital India' launched in 2015 has newly incorporated the North East region into the programme.

She also expressed happiness that as part of the pilot project under Digital Literacy Programme which will last for a year, awareness and training programmes will be conducted for 60,000 women at universities across major cities of Haryana, Delhi, NCR, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Meghalaya and Sikkirn on safe and responsible use of internet, social media and e-mail.

The programme will enable trainees to differentiate between credible and questionable information circulated digitally.

Internet has come to stay in the modern society and it plays a crucial role in everyday life, she added.

On the positive side, it has given people the opportunity to connect and stay connected, explore professional skilling and grooming, share information and participate in the global race for development, Najma maintained.

She cautioned that it is important for everyone to be aware about the safety practices, basic security and privacy tools in the internet space.

The number of internet users among women is small in India due to lack of digital awareness and literacy about different platforms, their potential and opportunities, she noted.

However, there are few women who successfully run cosmetic product businesses through social media from their homes, women self-help groups selling local village produce on E-Commerce platforms and homemakers showcasing their food delicacies on YouTube.

Women have launched great start-ups online and are pioneering some very successful ones having worked on technology, offering solutions to modern day problems of the people.

"In India, we need to solve the problem of lack of inclusion of women in the internet using population through technology capacitation and it is quite encouraging that the rate of inclusion is fast catching up," Najma said.

Along with access to new devices and technologies, women also need to be aware about how to use them, she stated while adding that it is heartening to know that the present initiative of National Commission for Women has already reached out to close to 12,000 women across the country.

It is very encouraging to hear stories of women who have benefited from a campaign, Najma added.

Minister of Social Welfare Nemcha Kipgen who graced the occasion as guest of honour expressed hope that the launch of Digital Literacy and Online Safety Programme will uplift and digitally empower the women of Manipur.

The Minister also stated that the current use of internet by literate women is still low in the rural and hilly areas.

Meanwhile, Chairperson, National Commission for Women Rekha Sharma said that women are empowered because of digitalization.

Safety of women is a top priority along with the knowledge to use the internet safely and cautiously.

She also said that the Commission will organize the same event in Meghalaya and Sikkim in the coming week.

The programme was attended by NCW member Soso Shaiza, president Cyber Peace Foundation, Capt Vineet Kumar, Policy Programme Manager, India and South Asia, Facebook Shruti Moghe, Joint Secretary, NCW A Asholi Chalai, students among others.

The programme was jointly organized by National Commission for Women, Cyber Peace Foundation and Facebook.

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