Odisha government rolls out “Stop, Verify, Be Secure” campaign to educate citizens on rising digital threats

Bhubaneswar, October 17, 2025 – Friday

From October 18 to November 17, 2025, the Odisha government will launch a month-long statewide cyber security awareness campaign to sensitize citizens to online risks and safe digital practices. The campaign, under the theme “Stop, Verify, Be Secure”, will span districts, towns, villages, and urban centers through outreach and multimedia efforts.

Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja presided over a preparatory meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan, directing coordination among departments including Higher Education, Information & Public Relations, Panchayati Raj, and more. The campaign will be inaugurated at Kalinga Stadium by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who will flag off the “Cyber Rath” (cyber chariot) that will travel across the state spreading awareness.

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Why Odisha Is Acting Now

With increasing reliance on digital services, Odisha has seen a rise in cybercrimes—from phishing and investment frauds to SIM scams, fake job rackets, and false hotel booking incidents. Officials say the awareness drive is designed to empower students, women, senior citizens, and rural communities with basic cyber hygiene practices.

The campaign will support reporting via a specially promoted cybercrime helpline number (7030), linked to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. It also intends to integrate cyber safety into school / college curricula and push for year-round vigilance rather than limiting efforts to a single month.

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Outreach Strategy: Online + Offline Mix

To reach all segments, the campaign will use both digital channels and grassroots methods:

• Social media, infographics, TV, radio, and cinema messages
• Street plays, folk dance performances, rallies, and awareness conferences
• Quizzes, interactive sessions, workshops in schools and colleges
• The “Cyber Rath” van that tours across districts, distributing materials and engaging in public dialogues
• Rural mobilization via ASHA workers, self-help groups, and local networks

Departments such as Mass Education, Culture, and Panchayati Raj will lead regionally tailored outreach.

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Key Themes & Safety Tips

Odisha is expected to emphasize practical guidance under the “Stop, Verify, Be Secure” slogan:

• Pause before clicking suspicious links
• Verify sender identities and URLs
• Use strong passwords, updated software, multi-factor authentication
• Recognize and report phishing attempts
• Be cautious around sharing financial or personal details online

These are core components of cyber hygiene drives globally, echoing advice from agencies like CERT-In and other cyber response bodies. Wikipedia

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Stakeholders & Institutional Roles

Success depends on cross-departmental collaboration. The following will be central:

• Home / Law & Order / Police: managing complaint handling and tracking cybercrime cases
• Education departments: embedding modules in curriculum and hosting student-centric events
• Public Relations / Information: mass media content, messaging, and campaign branding
• Local governance bodies: panchayats, municipal bodies, and community outreach to ensure rural coverage

Senior officials present at the planning meeting include DGP Y. B. Khurania, IG Sarthak Sarangi, and SP Smit Paramar

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Challenges and Risks

Despite its ambition, the drive may face hurdles:

• Reaching rural / remote areas with low internet penetration
• Ensuring message retention beyond campaign month
• Addressing linguistic diversity and cultural adaptation of messages
• Resourcing follow-up support — e.g., complaint response, victim assistance
• Avoiding fatigue from repetitive messaging if not refreshed

If left unchecked, these gaps could blunt the campaign’s long-term impact.

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Broader Context: Cyber Awareness Trends

India has seen multiple state-level cyber awareness efforts, like Kerala Police’s campaigns via daily utilities or Chhattisgarh’s cyber vans. The push in Odisha aligns with a national priority: enhancing digital resilience amid rising online threats.

Further, October is globally recognized as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a window leveraged by states and institutions for cooperative campaigns.

In Odisha’s case, the effort underscores recognition that cyber safety is not purely technical—but social, cultural, and educational.

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