Telenor to launch ‘Safe-A-Thon’

NEW DELHI: Telecom service provider Telenor India said that it will launch `Safe-A-Thon' on the company's Customer First Day on September 29.

"Telenor India is geared up to make this edition of Customer First Day special by announcing Safe-A-Thon: a unique initiative towards creating awareness around safe internet practices and train its 53 million customers, school students, teachers and parents on the issue of safe Internet. Telenor Safe-A-Thon will include a campaign to stop digital bullying and encourage safe online habits among multiple stakeholders," the company said in a statement.

Sharad Mehrotra, Chief Executive Officer, Telenor India said, “Responsible business practices are at the heart of how we do our business. Studies show that more than half of our children who are currently using the internet have faced some form of digital bullying at least once. Through initiatives like Safe-A-Thon and Webwise workshops, we want to help our future generations to become safe online and reinforce the power of digital as a meaningful resource for learning, socializing and entertainment.”

“We are sure this campaign will help our customers build resilience against internet related risks and help them be careful online as they embark on their digital journey,” Mehrotra added.

"As part of Safe-A-Thon, multiple activities will be organized across Telenor’s six circles and in Delhi to reach out to maximum number of customers, school children, parents and teachers. Telenor targets to reach out to over 10,000 school students through workshops on being safe from cyber harm and identify possible new online threats. In addition to these workshops, Telenor’s 400 Grahak Shiksha Kendras (Telenor stores) and Call Centre’s will train customers on digital skills. Telenor employees at these GSKs will use special modules, audio visuals aids and merchandising materials to make the training interesting and easy to understand," the statement said.

On Customer First Day, safe internet camps would also be organized across retail stores to raise awareness on internet related risks and even the call centers will reach out to customers and educate them on ways to be safe from cyber harm. On this day Telenor employees will be out in the market interacting with customers' and spreading awareness on digital bullying through merchandising and information notes.

As part of its efforts to create local impact in areas where Telenor operates, a programme called WebWise was started in 2014. In this programme, trained Telenor employees conduct workshops in schools. Telenor India is working with Rakshit Tandon, a renowned cyber security expert and consultant, to create this modules and conduct workshops. Till now over 40,000 students have attended these sessions in 13 cities across India. On September 5th Telenor organized a safe Internet training programme for over 250 teachers in Agra.