Workshop on Online Safety for Children Held for Education Officials in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Strengthening awareness on digital risks faced by children, a training programme on “Online Safety for Children” was organised for District Education Officers (DEOs) and ADEOs (Academic) in Bhubaneswar, bringing together key stakeholders from the education and child protection ecosystem.

The workshop was conducted in collaboration with the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and ChildFund India, with participation from around 80 officials, including representatives from OSEPA and the School & Mass Education Department.

Chairperson of OSCPCR, Babita Patra, in her inaugural address, underscored the increasing need to ensure children’s safety in the digital space and highlighted the pivotal role of the education system in addressing online threats. Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the School and Mass Education Department Odisha, Dr. N. Thirumala Naik, appreciated the initiative and urged officials to actively promote awareness among students and parents to prevent online exploitation.

State Project Director of Odisha School Education Programme Authority, Ananya Das, stressed the importance of integrating online safety into school education, suggesting interactive and game-based learning approaches to make the subject more engaging for children. Additional Director Sangita Behera highlighted the role of institutions in developing strategies to prevent online abuse and ensure a safer digital environment.

During the technical sessions, Dr. Shrabanti Sen from ChildFund India presented key findings from a pilot project on children’s online safety conducted in Kendrapada district. She emphasised the need for stronger inter-departmental coordination among departments such as Home, School & Mass Education, and Women & Child Development to address emerging challenges effectively.

The programme also saw participation from members and officials of OSCPCR and OSEPA, who shared insights on policy measures and field-level interventions. The session concluded with a call for sustained efforts to build a safe and informed digital ecosystem for children across Odisha.