What We Do – Responsible Netism

About Us

Our Purpose

“Responsible Netism empowers women, children and community members to co-exist with technology, to foster well-being in cyberspace.”

What We Do

Our theory of change is based on the following two Key Verticals:

EMPOWER

AWARENESS

Host the Annual National Cyber Psychology Conference, that serves as the only platform to reflect upon issues related to cyber wellness and empower educators about cyber hygiene culture.
Organize college-level Internship Programs, to spread awareness and distribute flyers about online safety tips, at the community level.
Organize school-level Drawing Competitions, Online Quizzes, Panel Discussions on Safe Online Gaming etc. for school students.
Run Radio campaigns across cities, for advocating cyber wellness.
Train investigating officers from law enforcement on women and child online safety, and define laws pertaining to online crimes.

EDUCATION

We provide various customized, age-appropriate modules of online and offline awareness programs for children, women, youth and adults.

SUPPORT

Responsible Netism has built a multi-layered support system to address online distress and promote cyber wellness across different states:

Cyber Wellness Helpline (7353107353): A pan-India, free-of-cost helpline offering counselling, emotional support, legal and technical guidance, and help with navigating reporting mechanisms for victims of cybercrime and online abuse.
Cyber Support Centre, Jaipur (Rajasthan): Launched in collaboration with the Jaipur Police Commissionerate and supported by Kogta Financial (I) Ltd., this is Rajasthan’s first dedicated on-ground centre for cyber support. It offers immediate emotional counselling, legal and technical assistance, and helps citizens report cybercrimes. The Centre also runs awareness programs to build cyber resilience and promote responsible digital behavior in the community.
Cyber Wellness Centre, Goa: India’s first Cyber Wellness Centre, established in Panjim, Goa. This holistic Centre offers a 360-degree healing approach through education, awareness, training, counselling, legal and technical support, and prevention strategies to help victims of online distress.
Cyber Wellness Cell, Vikram University – Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh:
A joint initiative with the university, the Cell addresses online safety concerns among students. It offers support for cyber distress, technical guidance, and conducts awareness sessions to promote cyber wellness and build student cyber ambassadors.
Collaboration with META, Snapchat, and StopNCII.org: Responsible Netism is the official India partner for these global platforms to support the removal of non-consensual intimate images (NCII) shared online. We help victims report and take down harmful content and provide emotional support during the process.
Escalation to Law Enforcement: When required, Responsible Netism escalates cases to local and state police departments for legal intervention and justice. We assist victims in filing complaints and guide them through the legal redressal process.

FOSTER

CAPACITY BUILDING

Capacity Building to strengthen women and child protection mechanisms across the country, to build First Responders to online distress. These intensive training are for:

Teacher Training Programs (Maharashtra, Goa, Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh).
Appointed by NCPCR as external resource people, to train Principals across 5 states (Tripura, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Assam, and Delhi), educating 2,500+ Principals.
Law Enforcement Agencies (Maharashtra & Goa)
Community Centric Organizations.

RESEARCH

To advocate for the cause of Child Online Protection, we conducted research on various topics to understand user trends.

ADVOCACY

Tabled recommendations to the Ministry of Information & Technology on OTT Platform guidelines and Safe Online Gaming guidelines.
Created Cyber Safety content for SCERT Maharashtra.
Tabled various recommendations to the Women and Child Ministry’s Parliamentary Committee on action on Child Sexual Abusive Material (CSAM).
Presented recommendations on Digital Personal Data Protection of Women and Children in the upcoming Digital Personal Data Protection Bill.

Why We Do?

Rationale

Equipping children, youth and adults with cyber hygiene practices and building cyber resilience is a necessity today

Diving deep into the children’s world of the internet.

Studies say,

Source: TOI, MCAFEE, IPA, NORTON, ECONOMIC TIMES, CYBER PEACE FOUNDATION, RESPONSIBLE NETISM

Children’s unmindful and ignorant internet behaviour makes them extremely vulnerable in cyberspace. Severe cyber threats faced by children ranging from exposure to predators and cyber-crimes like stalking, photo morphing, cyber bullying, exposure to age-inappropriate sexual content, addiction to pornography leading to sleep deprivation and depression to name a few. With the technological world developing at a gigantic pace, the need to prepare children and educators to cope with it has been felt intensely gearing towards a more evolved approach toward its usage.

How We Do?

Responsible Netism works on Education, Training, Advocacy and Research We provide training to Govt. and Non-Govt. institutions and the law enforcement about online safety and reporting mechanisms.

Responsible Netism runs a PAN India Helpline that provides legal guidance and psychological support to victims of online distress. Cases reported to us are referred to the law enforcement for legal aid or for psychological support and guidance.

We provide customised modules of various programs online and offline, equipping children, youth and adults with cyber hygiene practices in order to become cyber resilient.

Digital Rakshaks

- Training leaders and staff of community centric organisations to combat online distress in order to safeguard children in cyberspace

Vittiya Saksharta

- A module on Digital Financial Empowerment

ToTs

- Train the Trainers as cyber safety ambassadors and cyber caregivers

Internet Ka Safar

- Short user-friendly modules on digital literacy for community mobilisation and empowerment, also catering to senior citizens

Achievements & Recognitions

Executive Board

Sonali has conceptualised and founded Responsible Netism.

She has to her credit more than 25 years of professional experience with eminent organisations such as CRY – Child Rights and You, PCGT – Public Concern for Governance and Trust, IL&FS and Salaam Bombay Foundation.

She has been instrumental in hosting the Tobacco-Free Mumbai Campaign with the Mumbai Police in partnership with Salaam Bombay Foundation.

Unmesh is closely associated with Maharashtra Police and Cyber Lawyers in the Country. He is involved in doing a comparative study of Cyber Laws and Law Enforcement Agencies of various Countries and passionately talks about Legal Implications of irresponsible online behaviour.

Unmesh is a Social Entrepreneur, Philanthropist. He is the founder of ‘Anviksha Pratishthan’ and the Director of ‘Marathi Asmita Cultural Foundation’. He owns Bharatiya Vastra Shilpa – a leading Souvenir and Garment manufacturing company that has pioneered in the field of promoting Marathi Calligraphy Poetry and Marathi Culture on his souvenirs. He has several Young Entrepreneurs Awards to his credit and is also actively involved in reviving Theatre, Promoting Films and Events.

With more than 22 years of work experience, Mukul has extensively partnered with CEOs and senior executives, project and cross functional teams and systems (small, medium and large scale organisations) to facilitate complex business transformation and change. His areas of expertise include transformation and change management, strengthening organisation effectiveness through diagnosing organisational performance issues (structure, competency, talent) – designing and implementing large-scale transformational journeys, talent strategies, as well as senior team and leadership development and coaching.
Mukul’s industry experience includes IT and Services, Semiconductor, Infrastructure, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Non-Profit Organizations and education.

Shilpa is the Trustee of Ahaan Foundation and the Executive Director at Responsible Netism, where she serves as the brand custodian and leads strategic communications and outreach initiatives. With over 25 years of experience in branding and communications, she has worked with multinational companies, shaping impactful marketing and communication strategies. Since 2012, Shilpa has been an integral part of the Responsible Netism movement, actively contributing to its vision of creating a safer and more inclusive digital world. She has conducted over 500 awareness sessions on cyber safety and mental well-being across various age groups. A passionate advocate for cyber wellness, Shilpa continues to amplify the cause through compelling storytelling, meaningful partnerships, and awareness campaigns that aim to protect individuals and promote mental well-being in the digital space.

Utpal provides design and printing expertise at Ahaan Foundation. Utpal Madane is a young entrepreneur who is mainly into offset printing business for the last 16 years. He has his business spread across Mumbai, Nashik and Jalgaon.
Utpal is a Versatile Entrepreneur who along with Printing, is also working with Prasad Pawar Foundation, Nashik who is working towards Digital Restoration of Ajintha Caves for last 10 years.

He is also a Director in Marathi Asmita Cultural Foundation, a Production House which is formed to promote Marathi Music and Literature across the globe.

Our Trustees

Manjula has been associated with Ahaan Foundation since its inception. She adds her expertise in content creation and in mental health services required during online distress, and the promoter of Digital Literacy at Responsible Netism.

Manjula is the Secretary of Bharatiya Stree Shakti (BSS), Mumbai. She is also a member of the National Executive Council of BSS. She has around two decades of experience in the areas of family counselling, life skills training and teaching. She has worked extensively with women and adolescents and has also taught Science, Mathematics and Geography at some of the top schools in Mumbai.

Sumeet, a young tech-savvy Cyber Security Expert, has been one of the founding members of Responsible Netism. His expertise in the field of Cyber Security and Cyber Forensics is a great value addition to the project Responsible Netism. He has developed a software and application called MOBICID to monitor and improve online behaviour of children and adults.
Sumeet is a Computer Science Graduate with over 16 years of experience in the IT Industry. He specialises in the field of Social Networking sites and is the Co-fFounder Laibhaari.com (a Marathi Facebook look-alike). He has worked with the Anti-Terrorist Squad and SID for Security Application and continues to assist the Cyber Cell.

Sanjay is a seasoned HR professional with 35+ years of experience across diverse industries, including Automobile, Textile, Shipping & Logistics, and IT. He excels in strategic leadership, resource optimization, and talent management within multinational settings. Currently, the Director of HR at a global IT company, he’s also an ICF-certified coach, guiding corporate leaders and individuals on their professional journeys.

Advisory Board

The following are our Advisory Board Members who have been our strong pillars of support since inception:

Mr. Varde has been a strong pillar of support for Responsible Netism. Based on his experience and expertise, he provides guidance on legal issues, tax and organisational compliances to be followed by the organisation.

Dr Sovani has been a guide and mentor to Responsible Netism on research related to online trends and behaviours of children and adults related to their online behaviour. She has been appointed as a committee member of the National Scientific Committee for Addiction Prevention and has been working on building content on prevention of internet addiction.

Mr. Panvalkar provides his expertise to Responsible Netism on Media visibility and publicity. His expertise and experience in the field of media has been instrumental in crafting Responsible Netism’s media presence.

Dr Shetty has been instrumental in supporting the cause of mental well-being in cyberspace. He specialises in the space of internet addiction, cases of internet addiction received by Responsible Netism are referred to him and to mental health professionals across the country through him.

Adv. Bhagwat is a well-known practising cyber lawyer. She provides her expertise on legal compliances, provides support to victims of cyber-crimes reported through Responsible Netism and is a strong voice that advocates for online safety across various government platforms.

Mr. Singh has been instrumental in supporting Responsible Netism on cyber-crime related cases from the Law enforcement perspective and on research related to cyber-crimes and strengthening reporting mechanisms.

An entrepreneur and an avid gamer at heart, Ninad has over 25 years of experience in gaming and the interactive media space. He is currently the Chief Metaverse Officer of GoPhygital, an award-winning Metaverse and Web3 focused venture on building solutions for the Metaverse using Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, AI-ML, and Gaming/Gamification as the four core offerings.

Ms. Kulkarni has over two decades of experience in the Events Industry. Rasika is also the Director at NSE (National School of Events), the first ever Event Management Institute in central suburbs of Mumbai in the year 2003.

Our Team

Swapnil is an experienced clinical psychologist with over 15 years of dedicated work in the mental health field. He leads the counselling services at Ahaan Foundation in Mumbai, where he plays a key role in developing and expanding community mental health initiatives. Driven by a clear and compassionate vision, Swapnil is committed to making comprehensive and accessible mental health support available to communities in need.

Praison Varghese holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and brings extensive experience in the social development sector. He currently serves as Project Manager at Responsible Netism, overseeing regional projects in locations such as Jaipur and Pune. In this role, he collaborates with diverse stakeholders to ensure effective implementation and measurable impact. Praison plays a pivotal role in planning, monitoring, and optimizing project operations, ensuring timely and efficient execution.

Deeply committed to social impact, Rohit brings a grassroots understanding and creative approach to engage communities, especially youth, on issues of digital safety and responsible behavior. Rohit currently works with dedication at the Head Office of Responsible Netism, based in Mumbai as the Project Coordinator, where he leads advocacy efforts, training sessions, community engagement initiatives and client-based programmes.

Rama is a psychologist with an MA in Clinical Psychology and 2+ years of counselling experience. At Responsible Netism, she supports individuals affected by online concerns, both in person and through the Cyber Wellness Helpline. She values helping people process difficult experiences online and feel more confident navigating the digital world.

Rutuja holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and an MPhil in Psychiatric Social Work, with a strong interest in mental health awareness. As a counsellor, she provides psychological support and counselling to cybercrime victims and individuals facing cyber distress, while also conducting cyber safety awareness sessions in schools. Rutuja currently works with commitment at the Responsible Netism office in Pune, actively promoting cyber wellness and digital well-being.meaningful impact.

Radhika holds a Master’s degree in Social Work with experience in both urban and rural community development. With a strong interest in the women and child welfare sector, she is committed to building the Digital Rakshak Program at the Responsible Netism office in Pune. As a Trainer and Counsellor, she works closely with the Department of Women and Child Development to drive.

Owee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Forensic Psychology. Driven by a strong interest in human behaviour in cyberspace, she understands the critical need to educate both children and adults on safe and responsible digital practices from an early age. She currently works with dedication at the Cyber Wellness Centre in Parel, Mumbai, promoting cyber awareness and well-being.

Christabelle Claudina Dias holds a Master’s degree in Child Psychology and Child Development and a Diploma in Counselling Techniques and Guidance. She is also a Certified Child & Adult Counsellor and Trauma-Informed Coach working at the Cyber Wellness Centre in Panaji, Goa, she provides counselling and leads cyber safety sessions for schools and communities, supporting children, youth, and families with a compassionate approach.

Melish holds Master’s in Psychology and has experience in counselling, research, and community-based work. She has interned as a counsellor at a psychiatric clinic and worked as a Research Assistant. Currently with the Cyber Wellness Center in Panaji,Goa, Melisha conducts cyber safety awareness sessions and promotes responsible digital well-being and positive use of technology.

Driven by a strong passion for education and child development, Durgesh brings over 7 years of grassroots experience in program implementation, community engagement, and capacity building. He works closely with communities, educators, and children to drive meaningful change through education, life skills, and empowerment initiatives and is currently in charge of the Cyber Support Centre established at the Jaipur Police Commissionerate.

Harshika is a Clinical and Counselling Psychologist and has joined Responsible Netism at the Cyber Support Center in Jaipur. She supports individuals facing cyber distress, guides them on reporting online issues, and conducts awareness sessions and training programs to promote online safety and cyber hygiene across schools, colleges, and communities.

Reem is a Psychologist with a specialisation in Clinical Psychology and is currently working as a Trainer and Counselor at Ahaan Foundation. Her work focuses on the intersection of psychology, technology, and cyber wellness. She believes that true social change begins when we take control of our digital environments, and that cyber safety is not only about protecting our data, but also about protecting our minds. By combining psychological insights with practical digital habits, Reem is passionate about promoting cyber wellness and helping individuals build healthier, safer, and more mindful relationships with technology.

Aditi holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and 2+ years of experience. As a Trainer-Counsellor at the Cyber Wellness Centre in Thane, she supports individuals affected by cybercrime through a compassionate and empathetic approach, helping them navigate distress, process their experiences, and regain a sense of safety, confidence, and emotional well-being.

Nikita is a Clinical Psychologist working at the intersection of mental health and digital well-being. As a Trainer-Counselor at the Cyber Wellness Centre in Thane, her work involves supporting individuals experiencing emotional distress related to cyber incidents through counselling, psychological support, psychoeducation, and appropriate interventions. Nikita also contributes to mental health and digital safety awareness initiatives for children, adolescents, and communities.

Pranali holds an MSc in Psychology, with hands-on clinical experience in psychiatric rehabilitation and mental health support. Her background includes working alongside multidisciplinary teams in patient observation, clinical documentation, activity planning, structured therapeutic interventions, and psychoeducation across diverse age groups. Trained in ethical practice and person-centered care, Pranali brings strong communication skills, empathy, and structured clinical support to help monitor progress and empower individuals on their mental health journey.

Kalyani holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology, with one year of experience working with children. With a strong interest in understanding human behavior and digital experiences, she works as a Trainer-Counsellor at the Cyber Wellness Centre, Pune, promoting cyber awareness, digital safety, responsible technology use, and psychosocial well-being.

Driven by a strong commitment to social development and community wellbeing, Jivika brings over five years of experience in education, healthcare, community development, and social impact initiatives. With a Master’s in Social Work and a Postgraduate Diploma in CSR, she has worked closely with children, women, and LGBTQ+ communities, developing a deep understanding of diverse social needs. As the Center in-Charge of the Cyber Wellness Centre in Pune, Jivika leads strategic programmes and community interventions focused on cyber safety, digital wellbeing, awareness, and responsible digital behaviour.

Naveed holds Master’s in Clinical Psychology with a PG Diploma in Counselling Psychology. Currently, he works as a Trainer & Counsellor at Cyber Wellness Centre in Pune. Naveed conducts cyber-safety awareness sessions in schools, colleges, and communities. His interests include counselling, mental health, child wellbeing, and psychological research.

Kiran is a development professional with a Master’s degree in Social Work and over seven years of experience in child protection, education, life skills, gender, POCSO, and cyber safety. He currently serves as Project Coordinator at the Cyber Wellness Centre, coordinating regional initiatives across Pune Division. With prior experience in child protection, Kiran works with children, communities, and government stakeholders, leading project planning, capacity building, school outreach, and stakeholder engagement to promote safer and responsible digital environments.

Sukanya is a Counsellor with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and is experienced in working with children with ASD. Having previously worked as a Behaviour Therapist, she currently supports children and families through assessments, counselling, behaviour and play-based interventions, and parent guidance. Sukanya values children’s independence and individuality and believes in supporting them without invalidating their feelings, communication, or personal space.

Shringgrika is a Bhopal-based Educational and Counselling Psychologist and Research Associate, with five years of experience working in government and organizational settings. As a Certified Suicide Prevention Trainer, she practices CBT, SFBT, and ACT. Her work focuses on psychological counselling, mental health promotion, research, capacity building, and evidence-based interventions.

Preeti holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and has a 4.9 years of experience in community engagement, programme implementation, team coordination, and centre management. As a Centre in-Charge at the Cyber Wellness Centre in Indore, Preeti coordinates with educational institutions and communities to strengthen digital awareness, online safety and well-being.

With 10 years of experience as an Accountant in the NGO sector, Vrunda is passionate about financial management, accountability, and social impact. She combines accuracy with innovative thinking to strengthen financial processes and improve outcomes. She enjoys solving challenges, embracing new ideas, and contributing to organizational growth, transparency, and the mission.

Aparna is a Commerce graduate with over 8 years of experience. For the past five years, she has been working as an Accountant and Admin Executive with Ahaan Foundation. Aparna’s dedication and attention to detail contribute significantly to the Foundation’s backend efficiency and compliances.

Ankita holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with 7 years of experience in the field. For over 5 years, she has worked closely with the neurodivergent population, particularly children, and this experience has helped me discover a deep sense of purpose and passion in this area of work. Patience and empathy are the core values that Ankita deeply believe in, and bring into her therapeutic practice.

CYBER WELLNESS HELPLINE +91 7353107353

About Us

“Responsible Netism empowers women, children and community members to co-exist with technology, to foster well-being in cyberspace.”

Our theory of change is based on the following two Key Verticals:

EMPOWER

AWARENESS

EDUCATION

SUPPORT

FOSTER

CAPACITY BUILDING

RESEARCH

ADVOCACY

Rationale

Equipping children, youth and adults with cyber hygiene practices and building cyber resilience is a necessity today

Diving deep into the children’s world of the internet.

Studies say,

How We Do?

Responsible Netism works on Education, Training, Advocacy and Research We provide training to Govt. and Non-Govt. institutions and the law enforcement about online safety and reporting mechanisms.

Responsible Netism runs a PAN India Helpline that provides legal guidance and psychological support to victims of online distress. Cases reported to us are referred to the law enforcement for legal aid or for psychological support and guidance.

We provide customised modules of various programs online and offline, equipping children, youth and adults with cyber hygiene practices in order to become cyber resilient.

Being Responsible Netizens

Cyber Smart Schools

Building Digital Guardians

Digital Stree Shakti

Cyber Sakhi

Digital Rakshaks

Vittiya Saksharta

ToTs

Internet Ka Safar

Sonali Patankar

Unmesh Joshi

Dr Mukul Joshi

Shilpa Chandolikar

Utpal Madane

Manjula Nair

Sumeet Rathod

Sanjay Sabnis

The following are our Advisory Board Members who have been our strong pillars of support since inception:

Mr. Mahesh Varde

Dr. Anuradha Sovani

Mr. Ashok Panvalkar

Dr. Harish Shetty

Adv. Vaishali Bhagwat

Mr. Brijesh Singh

Mr. Ninad Chhaya

Ms. Rasika Kulkarni

Swapnil Pange

Praison Varghese

Rohit Jagtap

Rama Dandekar

Rutuja Karande

Radhika Burande

Owee Bhalerao

Christabelle Dias

Melisha Miranda

Durgesh Purohit

Harshika Gupta

Vandana Naval

Reem Shaikh

Aditi Lohakare

Nikita Nayak

Pranali Mhatre

Kalyani Dashputre

Jivika Chavan

Naveed Shaikh

Kiran Bagul

Sukanya Gamre

Apurva Shandilya

Shringgrika Khare

Preeti Kumari

Vrunda More

Aparna Sawant

Ankita Sherkane

Join Us

CYBER WELLNESS HELPLINE
+91 7353107353