Chandigarh, November 17 — Punjab Police has begun a state-wide cyber safety programme aimed at training schoolchildren to identify online risks, part of a broader shift toward preventive policing under the Saanjh community outreach framework.
The Cyber Crime Division recently conducted its first training workshop for teachers, with 75 participants. Officials said the programme will eventually cover 3,968 government high schools, as the force moves to address rising concerns around children’s exposure to social media and online exploitation.
Special DGP (Cyber Crime) V. Neerja said the increased availability of digital devices has created “both opportunities and dangers” for teenagers. She noted that children’s online activity accelerated during the pandemic, often without adequate adult supervision.
According to police, about 76% of children aged 14–16 in the state use smartphones for social media, leaving them vulnerable to cyberbullying, identity theft and other risks. Trained teachers are expected to guide students on identifying threats, understanding emerging AI-related dangers and responding to online child sexual exploitation.
Weekly school visits by police personnel form another part of the initiative. Officers conduct sessions on cyber hygiene and digital rights, in an attempt to supplement what officials describe as limited awareness among families.
The programme is being implemented through the Saanjh network, which includes district-level community police resource centres, 114 sub-division centres and 363 police station outreach points. The centres, set up as registered societies, work with police-public committees to plan community-oriented programmes.
Under the initiative, police are also using the Shakti Helpdesk to conduct awareness sessions on good and bad touch, child exploitation, drug abuse and emergency helplines such as 112 and 1098. Officials said the modules have already been introduced in districts including Sri Muktsar Sahib and SBS Nagar.
The Saanjh model also integrates technology with outreach. The PP Saanjh mobile app allows citizens to access police services, including FIR copies and verification requests, without visiting stations.
Officials said the initiatives are part of the state government’s broader effort to make cyber awareness a routine part of school education. “This is a long-term strategy, not a one-time campaign,” DGP Neerja said.
