In first outreach programme, Assam LSA partners with 18 prominent engineering colleges

Time of India

5 days ago

Assam LSA
, the field office of the
Department of Telecommunications
(DoT), Government of India, convened an interactive session with heads and representatives from premier engineering institutions, including
IIT
,
IIIT
, NIT, and other engineering colleges across Assam at BSNL Bhawan, Guwahati.
The focus of the session was to inform and expand the recently launched Sanchar Mitra Scheme, an innovative initiative aimed at engaging student volunteers as digital ambassadors to bridge the communication gap between citizens and the telecom ecosystem. The session was chaired by Sunita Chandra, Advisor, DG Telecom, New Delhi.
Suresh Puri, Additional Director General and Head of Assam LSA, and Hemendra Kumar Sharma, Deputy Director General (Media) and Spokesperson, DoT, New Delhi, made detailed presentations on the objectives and structure of the scheme. Delivering the keynote address, Sunita Chandra, Advisor, DG Telecom, said, "The aim of the system is to build a bridge between DoT initiatives, telecom services, and various citizen-centric efforts. It's about ensuring that our users, customers, and the public function better. We also want to harness the energy and services of young students from universities and colleges."
Suresh Puri dwelt on three pillars—CONNECT, EDUCATE, INNOVATE—of the Sanchar Mitra Scheme and emphasized that public awareness is key to secure, responsible, and inclusive telecom usage. Hemendra Kumar Sharma outlined the role of telecom services in the digital revolution and India's transition from being a consumer to a provider of various cutting-edge telecom services and products.
He also reflected on the need for public awareness at the grassroots level to safeguard unsuspecting citizens from various digital frauds. It is in this light that the role of Sanchar Mitra as 'digital ambassadors' becomes more important, he said. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North East Region, launched the revamped 'Sanchar Mitra Scheme,' transforming it from a pilot initiative into a robust, scalable, and incentive-driven national movement.
The scheme is designed to mobilize the power of India's Yuva Shakti—student volunteers—to become informed ambassadors of telecom awareness, cybersecurity, and digital empowerment. Shri Scindia described the scheme as a vision that symbolizes India's leadership in the four Ds—Democracy, Demography, Digitization, and Delivery. Initially piloted in select institutions, the Sanchar Mitra Scheme has now been scaled up for nationwide implementation following an enthusiastic response and promising impact in its pilot phase.
Under this scheme, student volunteers—designated as Sanchar Mitras—will be empowered to raise awareness among the public about key telecom issues such as digital safety, cyber fraud prevention, and EMF radiation concerns, while also promoting responsible mobile usage and digital literacy.
The expanded Sanchar Mitra Scheme not only aims to enhance public awareness but also provides participating students with exposure to cutting-edge telecom technologies including 5G, 6G, Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber Security. Through structured training, project participation, and engagement with real-world telecom initiatives, the scheme seeks to build a digitally aware, skilled, and research-oriented youth workforce.