Finance
On Saturday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the Cyber Security Awareness Campaign 2025, underlining that awareness is the most potent weapon in combating cybercrime, which has emerged as one of modern society’s most pressing concerns.
The month-long campaign will cover all districts of Odisha except Nuapada and will feature specially designed awareness vehicles, public programs, and educational activities aimed at promoting cyber safety among citizens. The state-level launch event was held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The Chief Minister emphasized the growing importance of digital safety, noting that around 82 crore people—or 55 percent of India’s population—use the internet, making India the world’s second-largest internet user base. He stated that as individuals rely more on digital systems in their daily lives, they become more exposed to online fraud and criminality.
Majhi underlined that the Odisha Government is committed to strengthening cyber policing, enhancing public awareness, and ensuring a secure digital environment. He announced that 20 new cyber police stations will soon become operational across the state, while the existing 14 cyber police stations are being modernized.
In addition, the Chief Minister announced plans to hire 1,127 more police officers and 170 technical experts, as well as the development of a state-level command center under the Crime Branch that will act as a Centre of Excellence in cybercrime prevention.
Majhi acknowledged the Odisha Police’s aggressive actions and praised the timely assistance provided to thousands of victims via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and the Cyber Helpline 1930. However, he stressed that, despite institutional safeguards, the primary source of cyber fraud is a lack of public awareness. He asked folks to be cautious and informed when using digital platforms.
Concerned with the rise in cases of online blackmail and harassment against women and girls, the Chief Minister instructed the police to take quick action against abusers and warned that any police personnel who fail to respond responsibly would face serious consequences.
During the ceremony, the Chief Minister launched 16 awareness cars that would travel across the state for a month to spread cyber safety messages.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja praised the Odisha Police for arranging the program, emphasizing that cyber security awareness should be a shared duty across departments.
Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania discussed continuing police efforts to combat cybercrime, while Crime Branch Director General Binaytosh Mishra offered the vote of appreciation.
