Nine years ago, the Akancha Srivastava Foundation began with a clear purpose: to make cyber safety education accessible, practical, and people-focused. What started as a mission to create awareness has grown into one of India’s largest social impact initiatives dedicated to cyber safety, prevention, victim support, and responsible digital behaviour.

This journey has been built with people, for people, and because of people.

Over the past nine years, we have travelled across India, worked with schools, colleges, parents, students, communities, government institutions, law enforcement agencies, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, educators, and citizens from different walks of life. Every workshop, every conversation, every call for help, and every moment of trust has shaped the work of the Foundation.

Our deepest gratitude goes to the victims and families who trusted us during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Many came to us with fear, confusion, shame, trauma, financial loss, online abuse, blackmail, harassment, identity misuse, fraud, and deep emotional distress. They believed that we would listen without judgment, guide them responsibly, and help them understand what could be done next. Their courage strengthened our resolve. Their trust reminded us why prevention, early reporting, evidence preservation, and compassionate victim support must remain central to cyber safety.

We thank every child who raised a hand during a workshop and asked a question that many adults were afraid to ask. We thank every parent who stayed back after a session to discuss a concern about their child’s online life. We thank every teacher who understood that cyber safety is now part of student wellbeing. We also carry with deep gratitude the love we have received from children, educators, and elderly citizens across India. Their warmth, trust, questions, and blessings have made this journey deeply meaningful for us.

We are deeply grateful to the Indian Police across states who welcomed us with openness, respect, and a shared commitment to public safety. Their willingness to engage, exchange knowledge, invite us to their regions, and collaborate on cybercrime prevention gave us a rare and powerful understanding of India’s digital realities. Through these engagements, we saw the diversity of India up close: different languages, different social contexts, different crime patterns, different vulnerabilities, and different levels of digital exposure. Each region taught us something valuable. Each interaction made our work sharper, more grounded, and more useful.

Our work with police personnel, IPS officers, enforcement teams, and institutions has been one of the strongest pillars of this journey. We have had the privilege of sharing knowledge, learning from field realities, understanding emerging crime patterns, and contributing to a prevention-led approach to cyber safety. These experiences helped us grow from an awareness initiative into a structured public safety movement.

The Akancha Srivastava Foundation has conducted more than 2,000 workshops, reached more than 515 million people digitally, collaborated with over 100 IPS officers, worked across 42 cities, and built an AI-enabled cyber safety chat helpline to support citizens seeking guidance. This support has now moved to email. These numbers matter because each number represents a person, a family, a school, a workplace, a police team, or a community that chose to engage with cyber safety before harm became irreversible.

Cybercrime has changed dramatically over the last nine years. Online abuse, grooming, financial fraud, impersonation, cyberbullying, sextortion, identity theft, misinformation, image misuse, screen-sharing scams, OTP fraud, gaming-related exploitation, and social engineering have become part of everyday digital risk. Technology has become deeply embedded in how people study, work, bank, communicate, build relationships, and access services. This makes cyber safety a public safety discipline, a life skill, and an institutional responsibility.

The Foundation’s approach has always been rooted in prevention. We believe people must be equipped before they are harmed. Children must understand boundaries, privacy, reporting, and safe online behaviour early. Parents must know how to respond without panic or blame. Teachers must be able to identify red flags. Organizations must train employees against social engineering and digital fraud. Citizens must know how to preserve evidence, report incidents, and seek timely help.

We are also grateful to the organizations that invited us into their ecosystems and recognised the value of cyber safety as a core institutional priority. Their praise for our work in strengthening employee awareness, reporting discipline, fraud prevention, and internal preparedness has reinforced our belief that cyber safety is now essential to organizational resilience and trust.

Our journey has also been shaped by the belief that cyber safety cannot remain restricted to technical experts. It must reach classrooms, homes, police stations, workplaces, communities, and public platforms. It must be explained in language people understand. It must be practical, accessible, and rooted in real cases. It must respect the emotional burden carried by victims. It must help people act with clarity.

Over nine years, we have learned that awareness is strongest when it is delivered with empathy and responsibility. A victim of cybercrime needs guidance, not blame. A child facing online abuse needs safety, not shame. A parent facing digital confusion needs clarity, not fear. A police team handling complex cyber complaints needs continuous knowledge exchange. An organization facing digital risk needs behavioural preparedness, not superficial compliance.

We thank our advisors, mentors, partners, volunteers, educators, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, government agencies, students, parents, institutions, and every supporter who helped us build this movement. We thank everyone who opened doors for us, invited us to speak, connected us with communities, shared our resources, amplified our campaigns, and believed that cyber safety deserves urgent national attention.

Nine years have given us scale, experience, credibility, and responsibility. They have also given us humility. India’s digital landscape is vast, complex, and constantly evolving. Every new platform, every new fraud pattern, every new form of online harm reminds us that our work must continue with discipline, compassion, and focus.

As we complete nine years of the Akancha Srivastava Foundation, we carry forward the same purpose with deeper conviction. We remain committed to protecting children, supporting victims, strengthening institutions, working with law enforcement, empowering citizens, and making cyber safety a culture of prevention.

Thank you for being part of our journey.

Thank you for trusting us.

Thank you for helping us build a safer digital world.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat

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I participated in a well curated Listening Roundtable hosted by Snap Inc. in partnership with Young Leaders for Active Citizenship in Mumbai. The discussion focused on how teenagers use social media, their consumption patterns, safety frameworks, reporting mechanisms, and concrete steps to strengthen digital safeguards. The curation was thoughtful and deliberate, bringing together experts from education, mental health, child rights, technology, and digital policy.

There was a clear openness to meaningful dialogue. Stakeholders from diverse backgrounds engaged with sincerity, listened carefully to concerns, and demonstrated a firm intent to strengthen safety practices. The presence of teenagers added essential perspective. Their clarity and candour grounded the conversation in real lived experiences, reinforcing the urgency of building systems that genuinely work for young users.

I was assigned the table on When Digital Connections Hurt. This subject sits at the core of our work at the Akancha Srivastava Foundation, where we have trained millions across the country on cyber safety, digital resilience, and harm prevention. Our experience of working closely with law enforcement across India and handling case studies first hand strengthens our understanding of how these harms unfold in real scenarios and what robust interventions are required. Our discussion covered sexting, child grooming, cyber bullying, transparency in reporting processes, and the operational accountability needed to ensure that young people receive timely and effective support when they reach out for help.

A platform with the reach and influence of Snapchat is positioned to set powerful benchmarks for youth safety. With the right design interventions, it can educate users at scale and even cultivate digital heroes within its community who champion responsible behaviour, call out harm, and strengthen a culture of awareness. This potential was evident in the constructive spirit with which the company hosted the roundtable.

Such engagements signal a positive shift toward collaborative safety building. I appreciate the seriousness with which the dialogue was held and look forward to many more forums that bring together young people, experts, and platforms to advance the shared mission of creating safer digital spaces across the country.

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(Blog by our Founder)

Aptitude Over Attitude: What Truly Matters in Cyber Security

I was asked a curious question at the CISO6 Cyber Security Excellence Awards: “Do men still compete with you in the field of cyber security?”
It made me pause. Not because I was surprised, but because we are in mid-2025 and this question still reflects outdated perceptions.

My answer was clear. If someone is competing with me on knowledge, I welcome it. In fact, I would go one step further and reach out to that individual, ask questions, learn, and grow. That’s the true spirit of excellence. But if someone approaches with a poor attitude or a misplaced sense of superiority, that stance is often short-lived. Because once I begin to speak, any arrogance tends to give way to humility. That is what aptitude does. It levels the field.

We must move beyond gender-led biases. The future of cyber security, or any field for that matter, must be rooted in capability. Skill, discipline, and performance should be our only metrics. The rest is noise. When we sit across the table, engage in critical national work, or solve deeply sensitive digital crimes, no one stops to ask what gender you belong to. They only care about your ability to deliver.

Over the years, I have been deeply privileged to work with some of the most complex challenges in India. I have trained police forces in naxal and terrorism-affected areas. I have conducted workshops with the Indian Army and assisted law enforcement across the country in tackling forensic cybercrime. The reality is that few people, regardless of gender, have had the kind of exposure or ground experience I have had. That’s not arrogance, it’s a fact built on years of hard, silent work.

So when I walk into a room, I do not walk in hoping to be accepted. I walk in to share, to build, to empower. And more often than not, I am met with respect. Sometimes even awe. That’s the power of deep preparation and consistent delivery. Not gender. Not titles. Just sheer knowledge.

And yes, I was also awarded the CISO6 Cyber Security Excellence recognition!

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#AkanchaSrivastavaFoundation, #AkanchaSrivastava, #CyberSecurity, #WomenInTech, #LeadershipInAction, #GenderNeutrality, #DigitalIndia, #NationFirst, #CyberSafetyMatters

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Eight years ago, Akancha Srivastava Foundation began with a simple mission—to make the digital world safer for everyone. What started as a small initiative has now grown into India’s largest cyber safety movement, impacting countless lives, empowering individuals with knowledge, and standing by those who need help the most.

This journey hasn’t been easy. There have been challenges, tough conversations, and moments that tested our resilience. But it has also been deeply fulfilling—witnessing lives change, hearing stories of strength, and knowing that our work has made a real impact.

Over the years, we have worked alongside law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, and corporate partners to ensure that cyber safety is not just a conversation but a well-structured, actionable effort. From conducting awareness sessions to offering legal guidance, from training officers to supporting victims, every step has been focused on creating a stronger, more secure digital environment.

The rise of sophisticated cyber threats has made this mission more urgent than ever. As the digital world evolves, so must our strategies. We remain committed to expanding our reach, strengthening our support systems, and continuously innovating to stay ahead of emerging risks.

To everyone who has been part of this mission—our experts, law enforcement partners, volunteers, and most importantly, those who trusted us in their most vulnerable moments—thank you. This is not just one person’s journey; it belongs to all of us.

Here’s to continuing the fight for a safer digital future. Eight years down, a lifetime to go!

#ASF8Years #CyberSafetyForAll #India

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Glad to share that SBI Foundation has come on board under their CSR Initiative for a series of workshops to be organised by ‘Akancha Srivastava Foundation’. These workshops will include Mumbai, Pune & rest of Maharashtra law enforcement.

Cyber crime investigation is a critical aspect of understand modus operandi of criminals online and finding newest & fastest ways to get to them . Our panel of highly skilled investigators will be conducting these interactive trainings where we will address cases received by different city police and exhibiting tools/techniques to close them.

SBI is the largest Indian Bank with 1/4th market share, serves over 48 crore customers through its vast network of over 22,405 branches, 65,627 ATMs/ADWMs, 76,089 BC outlets. When an institution like SBI steps forward to build a cyber secure India, its’ a turning point in the effort as it shows will of a robust brand like them to build proactive measures to give back to the country, protect their customers.

We look forward to a long term, fruitful partnership together.

Jai Hind

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We extend our best wishes to IPS Krishna Prakash Sir who was in the role of Special IG VIP Security, and is now promoted to ADG Force One, Maharashtra!

ADG Krishna Prakash Sir has been associated with us for last 6 years & we truly value his guidance in our mission.

Sir’s recent world record for open ocean swimming against drifting waves from Elephanta Caves to Taj Gateway,  first ever person to do so, was another accolade that inspired youth of the nation to be committed towards their fitness and good health.

We look forward to Sir’s continued guidance in our journey.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!

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As is our advise always on use of social media & exposure to it for children, we reiterate that Moderation in use of #SocialMedia especially by children is important for their #Mentalhealth.  Stop encouraging them to seek validation from strangers.

Specific to Aradhya Bachchan case where she moved High Court to have defaming & false information about her health removed, the court ruled in her favor and ordered removal of such content including videos  speculating on her health. About time media & social media influencers conducted themselves responsibly. Spreading misinformation especially about little children can have very distressing and long term impact on their mind.

Here are few links to the news-

HT- LINK

ET- LINK

Print- LINK

The New Indian Express- LINK

Stay Aware, Stay Safe

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat

The post Our Take On Aradhya Bachchan Case #AAH appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Kotak Mahindra Withdraws Ad Featuring Tanmay Bhat when Ms Akancha Srivastava, Founder of ‘Akancha Against Harassment’ raised string concerns about Kotak Mahindra Bank ad campaign featuring erstwhile comedian Tanmay Bhat.

Tanmay Bhat was the co founder of AIB, a rather controversial company of equally controversial comedians. During his tenure as the CEO Tanmay had failed to take action against his colleague who was accused of sexual harassment by several women. Tanmay publicly accepted that he was in know of this misconduct & yet failed at acting upon them. He went on to resign from his position and AIB pretty much slipped into oblivion.

Tanmay would often use abusive language & inappropriate tweets via his personal Twitter handle too. This included so called (sick) jokes about sexual assaults on baby girls.

Ms Akancha Srivastava upon seeing the endorsement by Kotak Mahindra Bank, immediately raised this issue. She also put forth the tweets made by Tanmay Bhat, which were objectionable, in fact totally unacceptable. Over the next few hours, her tweet gathered immense support, going viral in India. Several politicians, actors and other influencers supported her stand. Rightly so.

Alleged comedian Kunal Kamra tried to position Tanmay as a ‘victim who is facing atrocities’. Ms Srivastava took a tough stand against this whataboutery. Once more, social media came together is calling out this absolutely frivolous statement by Kamra and supported our views.

Links to the news coverage:

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Ms Akancha Srivastava, Founder of ‘Akancha Against Harassment’ noticed that Kotak Mahindra Bank had launched a new ad campaign featuring erstwhile comedian Tanmay Bhat.

Tanmay Bhat was the co founder of AIB, a rather controversial company of equally controversial comedians. During his tenure as the CEO Tanmay had failed to take action against his colleague who was accused of sexual harassment by several women. Tanmay publicly accepted that he was in know of this misconduct & yet failed at acting upon them. He went on to resign from his position and AIB pretty much slipped into oblivion.

Tanmay would often use abusive language & inappropriate tweets via his personal Twitter handle too. This included so called (sick) jokes about sexual assaults on baby girls.

Ms Akancha Srivastava upon seeing the endorsement by Kotak Mahindra Bank, immediately raised this issue. She also put forth the tweets made by Tanmay Bhat, which were objectionable, in fact totally unacceptable. Over the next few hours, her tweet gathered immense support, going viral in India. Several politicians, actors and other influencers supported her stand. Rightly so.

As an immediate impact, Kotak Mahindra Bank withdrew the ad campaign featuring Tanmay Bhat within 24 hours.

Links to Stories:

This really is the power of Social media & unity. Thank you for believing in us all these years.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!

The post Kotak Mahindra Withdraws Ad Featuring Tanmay Bhat #AAH appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Ms Akancha Srivastava, Founder of ‘Akancha Against Harassment’ noticed that Kotak Mahindra Bank had launched a new ad campaign featuring erstwhile comedian Tanmay Bhat.

Tanmay Bhat was the co founder of AIB, a rather controversial company of equally controversial comedians. During his tenure as the CEO Tanmay had failed to take action against his colleague who was accused of sexual harassment by several women. Tanmay publicly accepted that he was in know of this misconduct & yet failed at acting upon them. He went on to resign from his position and AIB pretty much slipped into oblivion.

Tanmay would often use abusive language & inappropriate tweets via his personal Twitter handle too. This included so called (sick) jokes about sexual assaults on baby girls.

Ms Akancha Srivastava upon seeing the endorsement by Kotak Mahindra Bank, immediately raised this issue. She also put forth the tweets made by Tanmay Bhat, which were objectionable, in fact totally unacceptable. Over the next few hours, her tweet gathered immense support, going viral in India. Several politicians, actors and other influencers supported her stand. Rightly so.

As an immediate impact, Kotak Mahindra Bank withdrew the ad campaign featuring Tanmay Bhat within 24 hours.

TIMES NOW LINK TO STORY HERE

This really is the power of Social media & unity. Thank you for believing in us all these years.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat

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