Cybercrime risk spurs digital literacy push for elderly

Bengaluru: With cybercriminals increasingly targeting senior citizens, the Directorate of Mass Education is introducing a dedicated chapter on digital literacy.

The focus will be on the importance of One-Time Passwords (OTPs), the modus operandi of digital arrest scams, safe digital payment practices, and critical precautions to take before clicking on unfamiliar apps or links.

This initiative follows a recent departmental meeting, where senior officials from the Department of School Education and Literacy instructed the Department of School Education Research and Training (DSERT) to review and revise textbooks for elderly learners in consultation with the mass education department.

"Literacy doesn’t just mean teaching the basics. We need to upgrade the syllabus to match the realities of today’s society,” said a senior official from the Department of School Education and Literacy.

Addressing the urgency of the move, the official cited growing instances of elderly citizens falling prey to digital fraud. "There is a rise in cybercriminals targeting the elderly. We recently read about an elderly couple who died by suicide after being caught in a digital arrest scam. Educating them and raising awareness is critical,” the official said.

DSERT has developed a new textbook titled 'Baalige Belaku', which now includes chapters on digital education tailored to the needs of elderly learners.

According to the official, the Union Education Department has also recommended the inclusion of real-life, practical content to better equip senior citizens for the digital age.

Currently, 1.86 crore elderly illiterates have been identified across the Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, and Mysuru regions. Classes for these learners will be held during the evening and night hours at the gram panchayat level.

Hands-on digi training

This year, the department is also introducing hands-on digital training.

Elderly learners will be taught how to book e-tickets, identify official websites, make digital payments, withdraw cash from ATMs, and transfer money online.

They will also be educated on how to handle unknown callers asking for personal details or OTPs, and what steps to take if someone threatens them over the phone by falsely linking them to a crime.