Google Web Rangers Aims to Reach Every School in India in 5 Years

With Safer Internet Day being celebrated around the world on February 7, Google Web Rangers India announced its annual winners today.

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Web Rangers, which aims at promoting digital literacy and spreading awareness about internet safety named Ashutosh Sahni (17 years from Jalandhar), Arnav Nagpal (14 years from Gurgaon), Krishna Pandit (14 years from Noida), Nitika Gadura (13 years from Bangalore) and Sarthak Gupta (13 years from New Delhi) were chosen as the top five national winners among thousands of entries from across the country.

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Sunita Mohanty, Director (Trust and Safety) of Google India told News18.com, "Over 25,000 students and teachers from 450 schools across India are a part of this initiative now." Asked about the programme's penetration into rural areas she said, "Web Rangers is making inroads into government schools too and this year's competition saw about 200 participants from state-run schools."

Mohanty said she is believed that every school in the country would be a part of the programme in the coming five years.

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Started only two years ago, Google Web Rangers has witnessed an overwhelming growth. "Over 25,000 students and teachers from 450 schools across India are a part of this initiative now," Mohanty said.

"A big thank you to all the young people who shared with us their brilliant ideas and campaigns and helped us in our endeavor to make the web a safer place,” she added.

Under the programme, participants are trained on Internet safety to further spread the message and empower young minds and encourage people in their schools and communities to consider issues such as effects of cyber-bullying, managing one’s own digital footprint and being aware of online tricks and scams.

As part of this contest, Google Web Rangers had asked students within the age group of 10-17 years create and run their own online safety campaigns in the form of social campaigns, developing apps, making posters and videos. Winning entries were judged and selected based on creativity, each and impact. Winners will receive Chromebooks and tablets as their prize.