IT Minister Sridhar Babu calls for tighter vigilance at SCSC conclave

IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu described the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) as a rare space where government, industry, police and community groups work together to keep the city safe.

“I initially wondered how an industry and IT portfolio connected with the council’s work, but realised that safety remained a defining factor for businesses choosing Hyderabad and Telangana,” he said while addressing the SCSC Conclave 2025 at HICC on Thursday.

He said the city’s growth had brought complex challenges in the digital space and noted that criminals were shifting from physical offences to online crimes. He added that constant phone use had widened the risk and that criminals are adapting quickly. He referred to recent incidents involving residents losing large sums to crypto fraud, digital impersonation schemes and scams targeting senior citizens, and said these reflect an urgent need for tighter vigilance.

The Minister pointed to the role of SCSC volunteers, police personnel and sector committees in improving cyber hygiene, supporting women’s safety, assisting senior citizens and engaging with technology firms. He said the council worked as an example of a non-profit complementing public institutions through sustained, voluntary effort.

Mr. Sridhar Babu added that global investors now assess a city’s data security, policing quality and women’s safety before making investment decisions and said Hyderabad’s collaborative model had built confidence. He said the government aims to create more skilled talent and strengthen systems so the city could position itself as a global benchmark for safety and administration in the coming years.

The Minister spoke in the presence of Cyberabad Police Commissioner Avinash Mohanty, SCSC secretary general Ramesh Kaja, Consul General Laura Williams, actor Amala Akkineni, Additional DGP CID Charu Sinha and members of the executive committee.