The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has expanded its ‘Sanchar Mitra Scheme’ across India, transforming it from a pilot project into a national programme to empower youth as digital ambassadors.

Initially piloted in select institutions, the scheme will now engage student volunteers — called Sanchar Mitras — to spread awareness on digital safety, cyber fraud prevention, EMF radiation, and responsible mobile use.

Volunteers will receive training from the National Communications Academy–Technology (NCA-T) and DoT’s Media Wing, gaining exposure to advanced telecom technologies like 5G, 6G, AI, and cyber security. Students from telecom, electronics, computer science, and cyber security streams will be nominated through local DoT offices.

Sanchar Mitras will conduct community outreach, work with NGOs, and promote safe digital practices. Outstanding volunteers may get opportunities such as internships, project participation, and representation at events like the India Mobile Congress and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The first outreach under the expanded scheme was held at BSNL Bhawan, Guwahati, by Assam LSA in partnership with 18 engineering institutions including IIT, IIIT, and NIT.

Sunita Chandra, Advisor, Office of DG Telecom, highlighted the aim of connecting DoT initiatives with citizens through student engagement. Assam LSA Head Suresh Puri outlined the scheme’s pillars — Connect, Educate, Innovate — while Hemendra Kumar Sharma, DoT Spokesperson, stressed the need for grassroots awareness to tackle digital fraud.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia recently launched the nationwide roll-out, describing the initiative as a step towards India’s leadership in “Democracy, Demography, Digitisation, and Delivery.”