There is no substitute for alertness and sensibility in cyber world, says Rupin Sharma

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 12 (EMN): Sensibility, patience and not being greedy can help avoid most cyber crimes amid growing such cases across the world, advised the Director General Prisons, Home Guards, Civil Defence and SDRF, Rupin Sharma, on Friday.

‘There is no substitute for alertness and sensibility in the cyber world,’ he said at the annual conference of Nagaland College Principals’ Association (NCPA) held in Kohima.

Speaking on the topic ‘Prevention of cybercrime in higher education institutes in Nagaland’, he said that a lot of the cyber crime incidents do not get reported as most people (victims) are hesitant. Reporting to the police should be encouraged, because if not reported, perpetrators can do it again, he said.

For victims to come forward and report to the police, there has to be a system in place where their identity is not revealed, he said, while suggesting colleges and institutions to set up such a mechanism to address the issue as well as create awareness among students.

On sextortion cases, he said victims usually hesitate to open up because it involves moral dilemma besides physical threats. In such cases, the perpetrators used to demand money. But one should not fall prey to the perpetrator and cut off the communication, he advised.

‘On one hand, gadgets like computers, mobile phones and the internet make life easier but it has doubled an individual’s vulnerability. Any crime committed without a computer in the past is now possible with it and internet,’ he said.

The officer pointed out that cyber crime has increased with exponential rise in internet and mobile phones users especially during the pandemic-induced lockdown. He opined that students tend to abuse time using mobile phones, which is dangerous, as it is difficult to monitor their personal phones.

Meanwhile, the increased use of technology will help the society in the long run because children are starting to learn and adapt to the use of the internet in less time, he added.

42 colleges accredited by NAAC

Director of Higher Education, Dr. Apeni Lotha informed that there are 67 colleges — 15 government colleges and 52 private colleges (inclusive of two new colleges) — in Nagaland.

Out of 15 government colleges, 11 have been assessed by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) while all colleges have gone through AAA (an assessment conducted by the Directorate of Higher Education).

Out of 52 private colleges, 31 colleges have gone NAAC assessment, she informed.

Informing that many private colleges are yet to go for AAA assessment, she encouraged institutions to come forward for it as it will help get NAAC accreditation. Except for the three autonomous colleges in Nagaland, very few colleges are B++ and most of them fall in the category of C, she informed while appealing to go for quality assessment.

The director further shared that one has to think about imparting human aspects of life to students besides knowledge. Shape and mould a child to become responsible citizens so that they can take the lead, she advised.

President of NCPA and principal of Japfü Christian College, Kohima, Dr. Visakhonü Hibo, said that Nagaland needs to take up a data-base research on cyber crimes.

‘Taking into consideration the challenges at the grassroots level, we must take steps to combat cyber crime in higher education and institutions,’ she said.

She also stressed on the need to sensitise cyber crime and the urgency to educate the citizens to be vigilant especially on social media.

Calling for concerted effort to ensure the safety and protection of all citizens, she said students should be educated on such topics so that they can educate their peers, parents and siblings.