Ghaziabad: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in collaboration with the National Telecommunications Institute for Policy Research Innovation and Training (NTIPRIT), organized an Awareness Workshop for Sanchar Mitras today. The Sanchar Mitra program enlists student volunteers to empower citizens in navigating the digital world safely and efficiently by raising awareness about citizen-centric services and the dangers of cyber fraud.
The Sanchar Mitras are selected from prestigious educational institutions housing 100 5G Use Case Labs. Over 250 student volunteers have been chosen from across India to participate in this program.
During the inauguration of the workshop, Madhu Arora, Member (T) of the Digital Communication Commission, interacted with the Sanchar Mitras. She emphasized the crucial role of telecommunications in today’s digital age, stating, “It is imperative that citizens are aware of today’s digital trends and developments. Sanchar Mitra is a stepping stone in our efforts to raise awareness and empower citizens.”
She described the Sanchar Mitras as “agents of change” in society, helping to bridge the gap between the Department’s initiatives and the citizens, especially in remote areas where access to information is limited. Arora highlighted the importance of two-way communication, focusing on the role of Sanchar Mitras as a feedback mechanism, providing valuable insights into the challenges faced by citizens to help the DoT develop better strategies. She encouraged them to leverage this unique platform to unlock future opportunities in telecom and related fields.
Arora also praised the DoT’s efforts in ensuring citizen safety during natural disasters and through innovative solutions like Sanchar Saathi. She commended India’s technological manufacturing prowess, noting the milestone of creating an indigenous 4G and 5G stack.
Deb Kumar Chakraborti, Director General of NTIPRIT, underscored the role of Sanchar Mitras in bridging the communication gap between citizens and the DoT. He listed the primary duties of the DoT, including providing affordable connectivity, grievance redressal, tackling cyber threats, and ensuring safe citizen-centric solutions. Chakraborti offered valuable suggestions on expanding the Sanchar Mitra program.
The roles of Sanchar Mitras are multi-faceted. They are tasked with raising awareness about telecom-related citizen-centric services like Sanchar Saathi, promoting digital literacy, educating the public about the dangers of cyber fraud, reporting issues, collecting feedback, and coordinating with field offices.
The workshop served as an induction program, enhancing the capacity, understanding, and effectiveness of the volunteers. It aimed at providing holistic awareness of telecom issues, focusing on communication skills, and offering an overview and demonstration of key citizen-centric services.