Daily News Analysis

Yashoda AI

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Recently, the Minister of State for Women and Child Development informed the Rajya Sabha about the Yashoda AI program, a significant initiative aimed at empowering women with AI literacy.

About Yashoda AI

Yashoda AI is an AI literacy program launched in May 2025 to equip women across India with the skills necessary to thrive in a digitally-driven world. This program focuses on enhancing digital inclusion and providing women with the knowledge needed to navigate the digital landscape, with an emphasis on cyber security, digital privacy, and safe online practices.

Objective

  • Enhance AI literacy among women to make them more digitally inclusive.

  • Empower women to understand the nuances of cybersecurity, digital privacy, and the risks and benefits of online engagement.

  • Focus on AI-driven crimes, digital privacy concerns, and strategies for safe online practices.

Collaboration

The program is a joint initiative by:

  • National Commission for Women (NCW).

  • Future Shift Labs (FSL).

Progress & Reach

  • Target Group: The program has specifically focused on women in rural and semi-urban areas, ensuring that those from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), as well as local elected representatives such as Sarpanchs, Pradhans, Mayors, MLAs, ASHA workers, etc., are included in this initiative.

  • Participants: As of now, about 2,500 women have been trained under this program, helping them gain the skills and knowledge to be proactive in the digital world.

Key Facts about National Commission for Women (NCW)

The NCW plays a pivotal role in women's empowerment in India and is directly involved in the Yashoda AI initiative.

Formation and Role

  • The National Commission for Women (NCW) was established in 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.

Composition

  • The Commission is headed by a Chairperson, supported by 5 Members and a Member-Secretary, all nominated by the Central Government.

Term of Office

  • The Chairperson and each Member hold office for a term of three years.

Powers of the NCW

While investigating matters related to women's welfare, the NCW has the powers of a civil court, including:

  • Summoning and enforcing the attendance of individuals across India and examining them under oath.

  • Requiring the production of documents related to the case.

  • Receiving evidence through affidavits.

  • Requisitioning public records or copies thereof from any court or office.

  • Issuing commissions for examining witnesses and documents.


 


 


 

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