Bhubaneswar: The UCCIL Ladies Forum and FICCI FLO Bhubaneswar organized a high-level awareness workshop on cyber crime at the ITC Fortune Hotel on 22 March. The event aimed to equip women and entrepreneurs with the knowledge required to navigate the digital landscape safely.
Dr. Santosh Bala, Additional Director General of Police and Director of Forensic Science for the Government of Odisha inaugurated the Program. Dr.Bala emphasized that social media platforms have become the primary staging ground for modern digital offenses.
During the inaugural session, Dr. Bharati Behera, President of the UCCIL Ladies Forum, and Shrimati Pragya Paramita Mishra, Chairperson of FICCI FLO, highlighted the specific vulnerabilities faced by women and children.
Speaking on the Workshop Dr Prabodh Mohanty, President, UCCIL first of all appreciated that such a workshop was arranged in such a juncture when it is an absolute necessity.
He emphasized that Awareness amongst ladies and elderly persons is an absolute necessity since they become soft targets. He stated for those who are in business awareness about different types of Cyber Crimes designed and their modus operendi is an absolute necessity.
Ace Industry Captain, Dr.Mohanty narrated about a recent incident where his smart phone was hacked and he himself had to undergo a difficult situation.
A critical advisory was issued regarding the use of smartphones by minors, with experts suggesting that children under 18 should only access devices under parental supervision and for limited durations to prevent exposure to online predators and financial scams.
The technical core of the workshop featured a comprehensive training session led by Dr. Lingaraj Sethi, a certified police trainer specializing in cyber crime.
Dr. Sethi detailed the various patterns of digital fraud and provided practical demonstrations on how to use Government of India security applications to block and report criminal activity. Participants were shown real-time precautionary measures on their own devices, focusing on preventive actions and immediate response protocols once a crime is detected.
The workshop concluded with a call for continuous education and the promotion of offline activities for children, such as sports and arts, to reduce digital dependency.
The event, coordinated by Dr. Sanjeev Mahapatra and supported by Shrimati Reeta Patnaik, Swarnabala Samal, and Pranati Parida, saw participation from over 70 women across various sectors and NGOs.
Special Gratitude was bestowed on Shri Tarini Prasad Mohanty Additional Director UCCIL for sponsoring the Awareness Workshop on Cyber Crime in his Hotel ITC Fortune.
This collaborative effort underlines a growing commitment in Bhubaneswar to strengthening community defenses against the global rise of cyber-enabled crime.