Common Services Centres, under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and Kyndryl, the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, have collaborated to launch Cyber Rakshak, a cybersecurity training initiative to equip women in rural and remote areas with new technology skills and help them emerge as Cyber Security Ambassadors.
According to an official statement, the initiative is part of Kyndryl’s and CSC’s commitment to invest in bold ideas that fuel prosperity and support equitable access to technology-enabled education. Over the course of three years, the program will train more than 100,000 women in rural and remote areas, driving cybersecurity education efforts and growing skillsets across Indian communities. The initiative aims to empower future leaders while extending economic opportunity to women in the world’s fastest growing economy.
Training will be conducted across 500 districts in India through the last mile network of CSC, a flagship program under the Digital India Initiative which provides assisted access to government and public utility services in rural and semi urban areas, the statement further mentioned.
Commenting on the newly launched initiative, Managing Director of CSC Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, said:
Internet users in rural areas of India are increasing, which has the opportunity to bring positive outcomes and new opportunities. However, citizens with small businesses are at risk of suffering irrecoverable damage from data breaches if they don’t have adequate cybersecurity knowledge. This program with Kyndryl, which will establish local cybersecurity ambassadors who are continuously trained and supported, can be one of the most effective ways to address such challenges. It will create awareness and empower rural people to address emerging cybersecurity challenges.
The coursework, co-developed by Kyndryl and CSC, will enable participants to better address cybersecurity threats in their personal and professional work while spotlighting career opportunities in cybersecurity fields. Participants will gain fundamental cyber knowledge, enhance competencies in existing job roles and learn about security threats that may impact their livelihoods. A central feature of the program will be to train candidates to become Cybersecurity Ambassadors, individuals who upon program completion will achieve a joint certification from Kyndryl and the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) and can serve as guides to local Internet users as they navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape.
President of Kyndryl India, Lingraju Sawkar, added:
The Cyber Rakshak initiative is part of Kyndryl’s commitment to India’s broader socioeconomic development, particularly for financial inclusion and building diversity in India’s tech talent pool. The cybersecurity landscape is more complicated by the day, and everyone needs the necessary tools and knowledge to better protect their data and improve their security posture. These are also important technical skills women professionals can bring to high-value career opportunities.
Kyndryl designs, builds, manages, and modernizes the complex, mission-critical information systems that the world depends on every day. The company serves thousands of enterprise customers in more than 60 countries. It is committed to the health and continuous improvement of the vital systems at the heart of the digital economy.
The Cyber Rakshak initiative promotes and supports the Indian government’s efforts to expand financial inclusion for women of underbanked regions and recognize women as a major driver of India’s economic growth.
CSC e-Governance Services India Limited is a Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) incorporated in the year 2009 under the Companies Act, 1956 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY), Government of India, to monitor the implementation of Common Services Centres scheme (CSCs). It is one of the flagship programmes under the Digital India Initiative. The platform claims to have more than 5.20 lakh CSCs offering assisted access to essential government and public utility services, social welfare schemes, financial services, education and skill development courses, apart from a host of B2C services.
CSC Academy, the Educational & CSR wing of CSC, provides access to professional learning for learners of diverse backgrounds and educational needs. It has planned to set up 7,000 CSC Academy centres (one in every block) across the country. Education and skills are the foundation of these centres.
