I&B Ministry
Terror attack puts paid to CAS Bill discussion in RS today
NEW DELHI: If it’s not this then it’s that. Yesterday it was the opposition uproar over the alleged irregularities by the petroleum ministry in the allotment of petrol pump dealerships. The terrorist strike on Hindu pilgrims in Kashmir in the early hours today closed the lid on any chances that the Cable TV Network Regulation Amendment Bill 2002 had of coming up for discussion.
The Bill was listed as the second item on today’s Rajya Sabha (Upper House) agenda. The chances of that happening seem nonexistent following the terrorist attack on pilgrims en route to the Amarnath shrine this morning. Eight pilgrims were killed and 32 wounded when militants attacked the heavily guarded base camp for the pilgrims near Pahalgam, 100 km from Srinagar in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag. One militant was also reportedly killed when security forces retaliated, according to police sources in Srinagar.
The attack, close on the heels of the absolute chaos Parliament has been witnessing in the last few days, has probably put paid to the chances of the CAS bill coming up for discussion today. If, in between discussing the militant attack and the slanging match on the allotment of the petrol pumps, the Elders can find the time to discuss the Bill then there may yet be a some news to report on this front before the day is out.
The Bill could not be taken up for discussion yesterday as both houses of Parliament were adjourned following opposition uproar over the alleged irregularities by the petroleum ministry in the allotment of petrol pump dealerships. The Bill is the second on today’s agenda, and a three hour discussion on the issue of conditional access system has been allowed. Sources in the I & B ministry said if the Bill does make it to today’s business in the Rajya Sabha, it could well sail through.
The Bill has had a rough passage thus far with I&B minister working hard to ensure unanimity between the ruling party and opposition members on the issue of CAS.
See earlier report:
No CAS Bill discussion due to RS uproar; debate anytime time available
I&B Ministry
MeitY & Reliance Foundation launch e-SafeHER cyber training for Women
Programme aims to train one million rural women in cyber safety over three years
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has partnered with Reliance Foundation and C-DAC Hyderabad to launch ‘e-SafeHER’, a nationwide cyber security awareness programme aimed at empowering one million women across rural India.
Anchored under the Information Security Education and Awareness Programme, the initiative will focus on building digital confidence and safe online practices among women who are increasingly using digital platforms for financial transactions, livelihoods and essential services.
The programme will be rolled out through a community-led model, with training delivered via women’s self-help groups and grassroots networks. C-DAC Hyderabad will develop and localise training content, while Reliance Foundation will drive on-ground implementation using its rural outreach platforms.
Speaking on the launch, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology secretary S Krishnan said, “e-SafeHER is an exciting opportunity to bring together knowledge and collaboration to build a cyber secure Bharat. Through this initiative, women from even the remotest regions will be empowered to participate safely in the digital ecosystem.”
Echoing this, Reliance Foundation director Isha Ambani said the initiative aims to equip women with the skills needed to navigate the online world safely. She added that the goal is to enable one million “Cyber Sakhis” who can confidently adopt digital tools to improve their lives and livelihoods.
The programme will begin with pilot training in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, before scaling nationwide through a phased approach. It will use multilingual content, audio-visual modules and blended learning formats to ensure accessibility and engagement.
Designed for long-term impact, e-SafeHER will be integrated into existing digital literacy and women’s empowerment programmes, avoiding the need for parallel infrastructure. The initiative also aims to drive measurable behavioural change, from improved awareness of cyber risks to safer digital transactions.
By combining policy, technology and grassroots reach, the programme looks to bridge not just the digital divide, but the digital safety gap, ensuring that inclusion goes hand in hand with security.
