Old Goa, December, 2025: Committed to securing government digital infrastructure and critical public data, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C) in collaboration with Goa Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (GIPARD) hosted a workshop on Cybersecurity.
Held across two days at GIPARD, Ella Farm, Old Goa, the workshop was designed to sensitise officials from multiple Goa Government departments about the evolving digital threats, data protection regulations and secure data management.
The session was inaugurated by Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director, DITE&C, Dr Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director, DITE&C, Dr. Seema Fernandes, Assistant Director, GIPARD and Shri Vidyanand Pawar, PI, Cyber Crime Police Station, Goa.
Speaking at the occasion, Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director of the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), emphasised the urgency of the programme. “As governance becomes increasingly digital, cyber security has emerged as a fundamental necessity for every department. With systems like Aadhaar, UPI, DigiYatra and new technologies like AI and blockchain transforming citizen services, the opportunities have grown but so have the threats,” noted Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar.
“This programme aims to build cyber-safe departments and cyber-aware citizens, because even a single breach can compromise vital assets and services,” he added.
Highlighting how cybersecurity concerns everyone today, Dr. Seema Fernandes, Assistant Director, GIPARD, said, “This workshop conducted by the ITE&C Department and GIPARD, aims to equip us with essential awareness and skills. Unlike other crimes, cybercrime is especially challenging because evidence can disappear quickly making timely action crucial. We hope these sessions inspire more such initiatives for the benefit of all.”
The sessions were conducted by Shri Vidyanand Pawar, PI, Cyber Crime Police Station, Goa, Smt Sejal Naik, Junior Project Manager, GEL, Smt Sangeeta Naik, Partner at Digital Goa, Shri Sahil Awasthi, Cyber Yoddha, Goa Police and Dr. Harold D’Costa, President, Cyber Security Corporation and Independent Director at SICOM Ltd.
While day one covered critical topics like introduction to cybersecurity, cyberbullying, DPDP Act 2023 and real-world case studies on digital arrest, day two delved into mobile-based frauds, golden rules to stay safe, understanding India’s cybercrime framework, CERT-In Directions and cyber crisis management. Participants engaged in interactive case studies and hands-on simulations designed to identify vulnerabilities in day-to-day workflows.
With initiatives like this, the Government of Goa is fostering a culture of digital safety, empowering officials to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats and strengthening digital security in the State.