Reliance Foundation and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), on Monday launched a cybersecurity awareness programme aimed at training one million rural women across India.

The initiative, titled ‘e-SafeHER’, will be rolled out over three years and seeks to build a network of “Cyber Sakhis” to promote safe digital practices at the community level.

Programme structure and rollout

The programme will be implemented under MeitY’s Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) framework, with C-DAC leading the development and localisation of training content, while Reliance Foundation will drive on-ground execution through its rural networks and women’s self-help groups.

The rollout will begin in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha before being scaled up nationally. The model relies on community-led training, supported by multilingual and audio-visual modules aimed at improving awareness of cyber risks and adoption of safe online practices.

Focus on digital risk as adoption rises

The initiative comes amid rising digital adoption among rural users, particularly women, driven by increased access to smartphones, digital payments and online services. This has also expanded exposure to risks such as fraud and data misuse.

“In an era where the Government of India is pushing for capacity, collaboration and resilience to ensure that we reach across the length and breadth of the country towards a Cyber Secure Bharat, e-SafeHER is an exciting opportunity where we will bring together the curriculum and knowledge of the MeitY’s Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) programme," said S Krishnan, secretary, MeitY.

"Through C-DAC working together with Reliance Foundation, this initiative will enable women from the remotest rural regions to be safe, seen and empowered. We look forward to a model initiative that can be replicated and scaled up with like-minded partners across the country,” he added.

Scale and delivery model

The programme is designed as a community-led model, with trained participants expected to act as local resource persons to spread awareness within their communities. It is also integrated into existing digital literacy and women empowerment initiatives to enable scale without creating parallel infrastructure.

“Rural women in India are coming online faster than ever. Reliance Foundation is committed to not just accelerating women’s digital inclusion but also to equipping them with the knowledge and skills to stay safe. We are pleased to partner with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), GoI and C-DAC to provide cyber security awareness training through ‘e-SafeHER’ which aims to enable women to build the skills and knowledge to stay safe online, as they utilise the power of digital to strengthen their lives and livelihoods," said Isha Ambani, director, Reliance Foundation.

"Through this initiative we aim to empower one million Cyber Sakhis in rural India over the next three years, helping them build safe online practices so they embrace the digital world with confidence,” she added.