Raising serious concerns over the increasing number of cyber fraud cases in Maharashtra, West Nagpur MLA and Nagpur City (District) Congress Committee President Vikas Thakre has questioned the state government about the effectiveness of its cyber crime prevention measures. Thakre highlighted that despite spending nearly ₹2,000 crore to combat cyber crimes, the recovery rate of defrauded money stands at a mere 2 percent.
Speaking during the ongoing Maharashtra Budget Session in Mumbai, Thakre said that thousands of citizens across the state fall victim to cyber fraud every day. However, the amount of money recovered from such crimes remains extremely low, which has created a sense of insecurity and dissatisfaction among the public.
He asked the government to clarify how the ₹2,000 crore allocated for cyber crime prevention has been utilized, stating that citizens have yet to see any significant results from the expenditure.
In response to the concerns raised, the minister informed the House that the government plans to intensify public awareness campaigns. As part of the initiative, authorities will send 21 crore awareness messages every month to citizens across the state. Additionally, ₹34 crore will be spent on awareness programs aimed at educating people about cyber fraud and preventive measures.
However, Thakre argued that mere announcements about the ‘Golden Hour’ in cyber crime cases will not be sufficient to address the growing problem. He emphasized the need for a real-time alert system to warn citizens before fraud takes place, along with faster investigation mechanisms and the use of advanced technology to track down cyber criminals quickly.
Thakre further stated that protecting the hard-earned money of citizens is the government’s fundamental responsibility and urged the state to implement immediate and effective measures to control cyber crimes in Maharashtra.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com