DCPCR focusing on cyber safety of students in different Delhi Govt schools

New Delhi: The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) is focusing on the cyber safety for the students of Delhi Government schools. Recently the child rights body organised a workshop on "child online safety and well-being".

The programme saw a strength of 120 students from classes 11th to 12th. "It aimed at sensitizing the group about issues related to cyber risks such as cyberbullying, identity theft, profile hacking, morphed images and videos as well as internet and online addiction which has become an alarming concern in the recent times," DCPCR official said.

Ranjana Prasad, member DCPCR said that the workshop used audio-visual presentations and open discussion panels to encourage participation and create awareness among the students about cyber safety. She said, "Technology has become an inseparable part of our lives and children are exposed to it from a young age making them susceptible to crimes and its misuse, prioritising this rapidly increasing new generation issue DCPCR took initiative to disseminate information through interactive activities for safety and well being of children in the online world to reduce violation of rights." "My concern is to make our children aware of the safe use of internet. Our children should know Boon and Bane of everything," said Ranjana Prasad.

Earlier the child rights body had organised a workshop for the teachers of secondary schools on October 25 . The workshop aimed at creating awareness, knowledge and skill building among teachers for "Safe Usage of Internet" to ensure health and well being of school going children and adolescents. Various comman issues which were faced by children and adolescents on the internet such as cyber bullying, cyber stalking, identity theft, profile hacking, online sexual abuse and exploitation were discussed in the workshop.

"In recent times children are getting addicted with video games. Infact the child is not playing the game the game is playing the child. There is a an addiction for such games because Dopamine level increases in the brain and sense of satisfaction is experienced," DCPCR official said.

Official further added that the teachers and parents can identify Internet addiction disorder, compulsive internet addiction by noticing the symptoms like depression, dishonesty, feeling of guilt, anxiety, euphoria when using Internet, mood swings, boredom with routine task, procrastination, backache, headache, insomnia, dry eye etc.