Maharashtra Cyber Department and Meta Platforms comprising Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram have collaborated to launch the ‘Digital Literacy and Awareness Program’ on 28th March 2022. The launch event will be held from 12 PM to 1:30 PM at Yashwantrao Chavhan Auditorium situated at Nariman Point in Mumbai.

The program is about digital safety best practices for children, adolescents, parents, guardians, and teachers in Maharashtra. The program will include digital literacy awareness sessions, training resources, knowledge repository including child and adult safety self-help material, safety videos, resources, and help guide, with the aim:
To spread awareness about Cyber Bullying, Sextortion, Darknet Services, Social Engineering, Trolling, Identity Theft.
To equip adolescents with tools and knowledge to tackle online threats.
To promote safe online behavior.

In a world where every day is a technological miracle, cybercrime has emerged as an organized, well-funded enterprise due to which the safety of children on the internet has become a global issue discussed at various strategic forums like the United Nations. India as a country needs to do more about the issue and showcase greater cooperation to international bodies working on this initiative.

In this background, it is exceptionally critical for school students to be aware of the threats on the internet like Cyberbullying, Cyber sextortion, trolling online financial frauds, child pornography, darknet crimes, hacking, identity theft, breach of privacy, etc. to make them Cyber responsible with good Cyber hygiene behavior.

Towards this endeavor, Maharashtra Cyber has partnered with Meta Platforms and the India Future Foundation, a training and advocacy organization, to deliver a Digital Literacy and Awareness Program to school/college students for the state of Maharashtra. It will also ensure that is students are saved from traumas and devastating effects of cybercrime such as bullying, sextortion etc.

Maharashtra Cyber is the state nodal agency for Cyber Crime and Cyber Security for Maharashtra constantly engaged in spreading awareness campaigns against cyber-crime. The agency is involved in building cybercrime investigation labs cyber police stations and creating all the necessary awareness about cybercrime amongst the police fraternity and the citizens in Maharashtra.

Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology.

Actress Ameesha Patel, who was herself victim of cybercrime and was helped by Maharashtra cyber, would also grace the occasion as a special guest of honour and recount her experience. Similarly, actress Aishwarya Raj Bhakuni, who has earned fame in Hindi television and Telugu film industry, would also be present as special guest of honour to recount her cyber experiences. Yashasvi Yadav, Special Inspector General of Police, Maharashtra Cyber, will be prominently present during the occasion.

Vladmir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin who announced a military operation in Ukraine and called on the latter’s military to ‘lay down its arms’ on Thursday, warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to ‘consequences they have never seen.’ 

Large explosions were witnessed in Ukraine’s Kyiv and Kharkiv regions. “I have made the decision of a military operation,” said Putin in a surprise television announcement shortly before 6:00am (0300 GMT) in Moscow.

Soon after Putin’s announcement,  the global benchmark Brent crude oil futures hit $100-per-barrel mark and oil prices rocketed to the $100 a barrel mark for the first time since 2014.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

CREDAI Nagpur Metro has applauded the step taken by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for writing a letter to Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for shifting Ratnagiri Petrochemical Refinery Project to Vidarbha.

CREDAI Nagpur Metro, through a press release stated that many industries will be benefitted from this project. Refinery Petrochemical Complex with many small and large ancillary units may generate 5 lakh direct indirect jobs helping per capita income to grow manifold. With the huge investment of more than 4 lakh crore, massive opportunities will emerge for different sectors. Real estate sector will also get a boost and may attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) also.

The project will not only generate many jobs in Vidarbha but also attract various industries and investments. The organisation stated that this project is a need of hour in Vidarbha to create opportunities for employment and growth of the region. The region will get not give a boost to fuel and LPG companies but also many industries like textiles, soap and detergents, paints, cement, steel etc., which use the petrochemical products.

These ancillary industries will attract jobs for the local people and also from other cities people will turn up. The apex body of builders and developers of Nagpur region welcomed the efforts taken by Vidarbha Economic Development (VED) Council for the project.

The mega refinery project of 60 MMTPA will not only meet future oil demand growth but also boost export of petro-products. This will boost the demand for residential as well as commercial spaces. Steel, cement and all needed building materials available nearby will further help the sector. FlyAsh consumption will increase manifold due to huge consumption of bricks, RMC and project related work.