Google initiative to promote safe internet

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Google India is working closely with Telangana government in Digital Telangana programme to cover various sectors.


“ We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State to work in four to five key areas but also going beyond. For instance, all the tourist places are being covered, mapped, video-graphed so that a tourist coming to Telangana get a fair idea on how the place looks like, places of interest in and around a city or district,” said Ms.Sunitha Mohanty, Director, Trust and Safety, Google India.


With rising concerns over fraudsters and cyber criminals preying on internet users, Google is also developing curriculum for schoolchildren on safe and responsible use of internet for accessing information. “ The curriculum is already integrated into eighth class syllabus and the process is on for ninth and tenth classes,” she told The Hindu here on Monday.


The company is also working with the State government in training youth and help them get jobs. The youth are taught how to build Apps and write code on Android, the phone operating system of Google.


In the education sector, Google is also involved in activities like cloud credits, start-ups ecosystem, innovation lab, mentorship, etc. 


The technology giant is working pan India to increase internet access as part of its mission to provide net access to every Indian as Google is now providing content in 13 Indian languages. At least 100 million new users are coming online, seeking content in their languages.


As a first step to encourage people to use internet, Google offered free Wi-Fi facility in 180 railway stations across India. The number will go up to cover 400 railway stations by year-end, she said. So far, the internet users at railway stations touched 6.5 million and with Wi-Fi facility extended to more railway stations by year-end, the number is likely to touch 10 million. 


Another thrust area is Internet Sathi to provide net access in rural India. With one in three net users being a woman, Google is working to provide net access to rural women SHGs to help about 10 million women in 10 States earn sustainable livelihood.