e-SafeHER: Cyber Sakhi Programme for Rural Women
Why in the news
A new partnership launched on April 13, 2026 seeks to make rural women safer online by training local peer educators.
Key facts
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Partners | MeitY, C-DAC and Reliance Foundation |
| Umbrella framework | ISEA (Information Security Education and Awareness), Phase III |
| Goal | Empower 1 million women as Cyber Sakhis by 2029 |
| Technical hub | C-DAC Hyderabad: development and localisation of content |
| Outreach | Reliance Foundation, using its grassroots network and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) |
The Cyber Sakhi model
- Selection: active women members of local SHGs are picked.
- Training: intensive coaching on cyber hygiene, preventing financial fraud and safe social media use.
- Peer education: the Cyber Sakhis (“Cyber Friends”) teach other women in their villages, forming a trusted local safety net.
Significance
- Targets the “security divide” faced by women entering the digital economy.
- Relies on existing SHG networks instead of building new infrastructure.
Exam angle
- Ministry: MeitY; framework: ISEA; technical partner: C-DAC.
- Programme term: Cyber Sakhi, with a peer-led, community-based design.