**Executive Summary**
On April 13, 2026, the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) launched "e-SafeHER," a cybersecurity awareness training programme designed to empower one million women ("Cyber Sakhis") across rural India over three years. Delivered jointly by C-DAC, Hyderabad and Reliance Foundation under MeitY’s ISEA programme, the initiative aims to build a gender-responsive, community-led model for digital safety. The phased implementation begins in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, with a final scaling target of one million women by 2029.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Program Framework and Collaboration**
* The initiative is anchored under MeitY’s Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) programme.
* C-DAC, Hyderabad is responsible for technical development, localization, and continuous enhancement of training materials.
* Reliance Foundation handles the dissemination of training through its grassroots presence and women’s empowerment platforms.
**Targeting and Delivery Model**
* The program specifically targets rural women increasingly engaged in digital financial transactions and essential services.
* Delivery utilizes a peer-led, community-based model, working primarily through women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
* The curriculum is integrated into existing digital literacy and empowerment programs to ensure sustainability without requiring new infrastructure.
**Educational Features**
* Content is designed for accessibility through multilingual adaptation and localized materials.
* Training utilizes audio-visual modules and blended learning approaches to enhance engagement.
* The program focuses on measurable outcomes, such as improved cyber risk awareness and the adoption of safe digital practices.
**Implementation and Scaling**
* A phased approach has been adopted, starting with training across Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
* The initiative will utilize insights from early implementation for evidence-based scale-up and national policy integration.
* The goal is to reach one million women across India by 2029 through multi-stakeholder partnerships.
**Impact Analysis**
**Rural Women (Cyber Sakhis)**
**Impact**
They gain the skills and confidence to safely participate in the digital ecosystem, protecting their financial transactions and livelihoods from cyber risks.
**Action Required**
Participate in localized training sessions and adopt safe digital practices in their daily interactions.
**C-DAC, Hyderabad**
**Impact**
Serves as the technical authority providing the curriculum and localized knowledge base for the project.
**Action Required**
Lead the development, multilingual adaptation, and continuous enhancement of cybersecurity training content.
**Reliance Foundation**
**Impact**
Acts as the primary catalyst for reaching the "last mile" in rural communities through its existing networks.
**Action Required**
Leverage grassroots platforms and Self-Help Groups to deliver training and ensure the community-led model is implemented effectively.
**Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY)**
**Impact**
Strengthens national digital inclusion and advances the goal of a "Cyber Secure Bharat."
**Action Required**
Oversee the initiative, facilitate multi-stakeholder partnerships, and integrate implementation insights into broader national policies.
Key Entities Referenced
e-SafeHER: A Cyber Security Awareness Training Programme launched to empower one million women (Cyber Sakhis) across rural India to safely participate in the digital ecosystem.
Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) Programme: A MeitY initiative that anchors e-SafeHER, providing the national cybersecurity framework and curriculum for the training.
Reliance Foundation: The primary delivery partner that leverages its grassroots presence and women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to disseminate training in rural communities.
C-DAC, Hyderabad: A scientific society under MeitY responsible for the technical development, localization, and multilingual adaptation of the cybersecurity training content.
Madhya Pradesh and Odisha: The initial target states where the phased rollout of the e-SafeHER initiative begins.
Ministry of Electronics & IT
e-SafeHER – a Cyber Security Awareness
Training Programme to enable one million Cyber
Sakhis across rural India
The initiative leverages MeitY’s Information Security
Education and Awareness (ISEA) Programme and will be
jointly delivered by C-DAC, Hyderabad and Reliance
Foundation
e-SafeHER aims to build a gender-responsive, community-led
model for cyber-safe digital inclusion reaching one million
women across India over three years
Posted On: 13 APR 2026 9:32PM by PIB Delhi
C-DAC, Hyderabad, a scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY), Government of India and Reliance Foundation, today announced the launch of e-SafeHER, a
Cyber Security Awareness Training programme to enable one million women across rural India, to safely
and confidently participate in the digital ecosystem.This initiative is anchored under MeitY’s Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA)
programme through C-DAC Hyderabad, enabling content and training material for dissemination.
Reliance Foundation will catalyse dissemination in rural communities across India, working in particular
through women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs). This initiative is another step forward to strengthen digital
inclusion for women. e-SafeHER aims to strengthen last mile cybersecurity awareness, particularly among
women in rural India, who are increasingly engaging with digital platforms for financial transactions,
livelihoods and access to essential services. The strategic collaboration between C-DAC, Hyderabad and
Reliance Foundation on cybersecurity awareness involves structured training and community-based
interventions.
Speaking on the launch of the initiative, Shri S Krishnan, Secretary MeitY, said “In an era where the
Government of India is pushing for capacity, collaboration and resilience to ensure that we reach across
the length and breadth of the country towards a Cyber Secure Bharat, e-SafeHER is an exciting
opportunity where we will bring together the curriculum and knowledge of MeitY’s Information Security
Education and Awareness (ISEA) programme. Through C-DAC working together with Reliance
Foundation, this initiative will enable women from the remotest rural regions to be safe, seen and
empowered. We look forward to a model initiative that can be replicated and scaled up with like-minded
partners across the country.”
Sharing a message, Ms. Isha Ambani, Director, Reliance Foundation stated that rural women in India are
coming online faster than ever, and underlined their commitment to not only accelerating women’s digital
inclusion but also equipping them with the knowledge and skills to stay safe. “We are pleased to partner
with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), GoI and C-DAC to provide cyber
security awareness training through ‘e-SafeHER’ which aims to enable women to build skills and
knowledge to stay safe online, as they utilise the power of digital to strengthen their lives and livelihoods.
Through this initiative we aim to empower one million Cyber Sakhis in rural India over the next three
years, helping them build safe online practices so they embrace the digital world with confidence”, she
added.
C-DAC will lead the development, localization and continuous enhancement of cybersecurity training
content under the ISEA Project, including multilingual adaptation. Reliance Foundation will leverage its
grassroots presence and women’s empowerment platforms across rural India, for delivery through a peer-led, community-based model.
In a phased approach, beginning with training of Cyber Sakhis across Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, the
initiative will scale to one million women by 2029 through multi-stakeholder partnerships. Designed for
scale and sustainability, cybersecurity awareness is embedded into existing women’s empowerment and
digital literacy programmes, ensuring continuity without parallel infrastructure. Localized content, audio-
visual modules and blended learning approaches will enhance accessibility and engagement. e-safeHER
will drive measurable behavioural outcomes, including improved cyber risk awareness, increased
confidence in digital transactions and adoption of safe digital practices by participants. Insights from
implementation will contribute to evidence-based scale-up and policy integration across the country.
By combining MeitY’s national cybersecurity framework, C-DAC’s technical expertise and Reliance
Foundation’s community-driven delivery model, e-SafeHER seeks to ensure that women across rural India
are not only digitally included, but also digitally secure.
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