INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The programme will train to differentiate between credible and questionable informationNew Delhi: Facebook on
Wednesday said it entered into a partnership with National Commission for Women (NCW) to launch a digital literacy programme aimed at
training 60,000 women in universities across India on safe use of the Internet, social media and email in a year.Launched in collaboration
with Cyber Peace Foundation, the pilot programme will enable trainees to differentiate between credible and questionable information,
Facebook said. The training will be conducted in vernacular languages. "With more women going online, NCW has witnessed a surge in cyber
crime related complaints registered at the Commission in the past three years
We have to ensure that while online, they feel safe and secure on the Internet," Rekha Sharma, acting NCW Chairperson, said in a
statement. "We congratulate Facebook and Cyber Peace Foundation on this commendable initiative
Our girls and women will benefit from these training programmes," Ms Sharma said. Cyber Peace Foundation is a Ranchi, Jharkhanda-based
civil society organisation involved in training related to all aspects of cyber security.The digital literacy programme will benefit women
in universities across major cities in Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Manipur, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. "Economies can only
grow well with equal participation from women and in today's age, this can largely happen with the free and unhindered presence of women on
the Internet," said Ankhi Das, Facebook's Public Policy Director for India, South and Central Asia."This naturally calls for the protection
of women when they are online in a manner which reassures and enables them to freely express themselves and share their views," Ankhi Das
