The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has launched the nationwide rollout of its flagship Sanchar Mitra Scheme — an ambitious initiative aimed at empowering student volunteers as “Digital Ambassadors” to promote telecom literacy, digital safety, and cyber awareness at the grassroots level.
As part of its first major outreach program under the expanded scheme, the Assam Licensed Service Area (LSA) office convened a high-level interactive session at BSNL Bhawan, Guwahati. The event brought together representatives and heads from 18 premier engineering institutions across Assam, including IIT, IIIT, NIT, and other technical colleges.
The session was chaired by Sunita Chandra, Advisor, Office of the Director General Telecom, New Delhi. Key presentations were delivered by Suresh Puri, Additional Director General and Head of Assam LSA, and Hemendra Kumar Sharma, Deputy Director General (Media) and Spokesperson, DoT.
Sunita Chandra, in her keynote address, emphasized that the initiative aims to create a vital link between government telecom initiatives and the public, especially through youth engagement. “Harnessing the energy of India’s student community can transform citizen outreach and strengthen responsible digital behavior,” she said.
Suresh Puri elaborated on the scheme’s core pillars — Connect, Educate, Innovate — underscoring the role of informed public awareness in ensuring safe and inclusive telecom usage. Hemendra Kumar Sharma highlighted India’s evolving position from a telecom service consumer to a global technology provider. He stressed the need for awareness to protect citizens from digital threats and cyber fraud, where Sanchar Mitras will play a crucial role.
Participants from various institutions actively engaged in discussions and expressed strong enthusiasm to partner with the scheme.
Union Minister for Communications and Development of North East Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, had earlier launched the revamped Sanchar Mitra Scheme, expanding it from a successful pilot to a scalable, incentive-based national movement. He described the initiative as reflective of India’s strength in the four Ds — Democracy, Demography, Digitization, and Delivery.
Originally piloted in select institutions, the Sanchar Mitra Scheme is now being scaled nationwide following encouraging outcomes during the trial phase. Under the program, students from technical disciplines — such as telecom, electronics, computer science, and cybersecurity — will be nominated as Sanchar Mitras to raise public awareness on:
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Digital safety and cyber fraud prevention
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Responsible mobile usage
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EMF radiation concerns
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Telecom innovations and digital empowerment
Sanchar Mitras will undergo structured training from telecom experts, including sessions by the National Communications Academy–Technology (NCA-T) and DoT’s Media Wing. Their responsibilities will include organizing awareness campaigns, engaging with local communities and NGOs, and acting as grassroots digital change agents.
To recognize and reward excellence, the scheme includes regular assessments and incentives. High-performing Sanchar Mitras may be offered exclusive internships, participation in national telecom events like the India Mobile Congress, and opportunities to contribute to global policy platforms such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Through this initiative, DoT aims to build a digitally informed, research-driven youth network that contributes to India’s emergence as a global telecom innovation and manufacturing hub.
