A series of back-to-back initiatives by the National Commission for Women (NCW) brought renewed focus to women’s welfare, digital literacy and gender-sensitive policing across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands this week. The programmes, held in collaboration with local departments and institutions, targeted diverse groups ranging from extension workers and educators to police personnel, emphasising an integrated approach to safety, empowerment and technology inclusion.
The first programme, a capacity-building workshop titled “She Is a Change Maker,” was organised by the Directorate of Rural Development, PRIs and ULBs in coordination with NCW at the DBRAIT Conference Hall. The event aimed at strengthening awareness on legal protections available to women, improving the responsiveness of governance systems, and expanding coordination among line departments, civil society groups, police officials and Panchayati Raj Institutions. The discussions highlighted national initiatives undertaken by the NCW and encouraged participants to contribute to more efficient support systems for women across the islands.
Alongside this, the NCW conducted the Yashoda AI Awareness Programme at the Tagore Government College of Education, focusing on empowering women through accessible and safe artificial intelligence education. The initiative, designed to bridge digital divides, has already reached thousands of women across India and continues expanding digital safety literacy. During the event, resource persons addressed themes such as AI applications in daily life, online threats, responsible tech use, and emerging risks that disproportionately affect women and disadvantaged groups. The programme drew over 200 trainees, including teacher-trainees, highlighting the growing demand for AI literacy among future educators.
Cybersecurity insights were delivered through a high-impact technical session led by a cybersecurity specialist, offering participants a practical understanding of digital threats. The session reinforced the importance of staying informed about evolving technology misuse, particularly in an era where daily communication, financial activity and social engagement increasingly depend on digital platforms. The initiative, part of a national campaign launched by NCW in partnership with Future Shift Labs, aligns with the broader national vision of preparing women to participate confidently in the technology-driven future.
The NCW’s engagement in the islands continued with a gender sensitization workshop held at the Police Training School in Sri Vijaya Puram. The programme sought to enhance gender-sensitive and citizen-centric policing across the Andaman and Nicobar Police. It opened with an address stressing the responsibility of law enforcement personnel to maintain fairness, empathy and professionalism while dealing with women and vulnerable groups. The workshop covered themes such as handling complaints with sensitivity, ensuring safety in public spaces, and strengthening trust between citizens and police.
Senior officers of the police department, NCW officials and trainers guided a structured session attended by 70 officers in person, while nearly 1,000 personnel across police stations joined virtually. Participants engaged in discussions on behavioural expectations, legal provisions, duty responsibilities and effective communication. The programme concluded with certificate distribution after a feedback interaction, signalling the administration’s intent to mainstream gender sensitivity into daily policing practices.
The three events, covering governance, education and policing, collectively project the NCW’s intent to strengthen institutional mechanisms for women’s empowerment in the islands. The programmes provided detailed insights into legal rights, digital safety, technology inclusion and responsive policing. With participation from multiple departments, students, teachers and law enforcement units, the week marked one of the most extensive NCW engagements in the region in recent months.
Officials involved in the initiatives stated that the momentum generated through these workshops is expected to reinforce ongoing efforts to make the islands’ governance, education and policing systems more inclusive, informed and responsive to the needs of women and communities.
