Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Odisha cyber safety campaign draws over 40 lakh participants
The government of Odisha, a state in India, organised a big event to teach students about staying safe online.
Police and education departments worked together to put on the event.
More than four million students, teachers, parents and police officers joined in.
They took part from over twenty thousand schools and two thousand colleges.
The event taught kids about dangers on the internet, like online cheating and bullying.
Students learned that they should never share secret codes like OTPs, PINs, CVVs or passwords because banks and police never ask for them.
If someone tricks them, they can call the special number 1930 for help.
They can also report problems on a special government website called cybercrime.gov.in.
Everyone made a promise to help others stay safe online.
The message of the day was 'Stay Aware, Stay Safe — Cyber-Safe Odisha'.
The Odisha government organised a statewide cyber awareness campaign on Friday, led by Odisha Police with the School and Mass Education and Higher Education departments.
More than 40 lakh students, teachers, parents and police personnel took part from over 20,000 schools and 2,000 colleges across 35 police districts via live webcast and video conferencing.
The campaign was chaired by DGP (Crime Branch) Vinaytosh Mishra and featured addresses by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Participants were advised to call '1930' and lodge complaints on the cybercrime.gov.in portal in case of cyber financial fraud, as early reporting improves chances of recovering money.
The campaign warned that banks, government offices and police never ask for OTPs, PINs, CVVs or passwords, and ended with the pledge message 'Stay Aware, Stay Safe — Cyber-Safe Odisha'.
- Who
- The Odisha government, Odisha Police, the School and Mass Education Department, the Higher Education Department, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, DGP (Crime Branch) Vinaytosh Mishra, and more than 40 lakh students, teachers, parents and police personnel.
- What
- A massive statewide cyber awareness campaign to combat cybercrime and promote safe digital behaviour among students and young people, empowering them as 'ambassadors of cyber awareness'.
- When
- Friday (specific date not stated in the articles).
- Where
- Odisha, India, with the programme anchored in Bhubaneswar and broadcast to schools and colleges across 35 police districts.
- Why
- Because students and young people are increasingly falling victim to online fraud, blackmail and digital exploitation, and some unknowingly make their bank accounts, SIM cards or identity documents available for misuse by cybercriminals.
- Organiser
- Odisha Police with the School and Mass Education Department and Higher Education Department
- Campaign Chairman
- Vinaytosh Mishra, DGP (Crime Branch), Odisha
- Participants
- Over 40 lakh (more than 4 million) students, teachers, parents and police personnel
- Participating Institutions
- Over 20,000 schools and over 2,000 colleges
- Police Districts
- 35
- Fraud Reporting Helpline
- 1930
- Fraud Reporting Portal
- cybercrime.gov.in
- Campaign Slogan
- Stay Aware, Stay Safe — Cyber-Safe Odisha
