Bengaluru: In its bid to strengthen data privacy and curb cyber crimes, the Karnataka government on Thursday approved the cyber security policy. Along with it the cabinet chaired by chief minister Siddaramaiah also gave administrative nod for setting up the Centre of Excellence for Aerospace and Defence at a cost of ₹391 crore at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) campus for research and studies.
Talking to mediapersons after the cabinet meeting, state law and parliamentary minister KH Patil said that the state cabinet had approved Karnataka Cyber Security Policy 2023-24. The policy mainly aimed at reducing the cyber fraud in the state, which is going up by the day. “We need to create awareness among people about cyber security and data privacy,” he added.
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The policy envisaged involvement of the officials and staff of the state government, local bodies and panchayats for creating the awareness programmes from time to time, and evaluate the people. “Also to have surveys regarding cyber security and data privacy. New software of the state government, online banking and technical education and training programmes in this regard will come under its ambit,” he said, adding that the policy in the days to come will help in prevention and detection of cyber crimes, and to streamline the measures that need to be taken.
Asked whether the licensing for digital platforms come under the policy, the minister said, it will not come as it largely deals with cyber protection. To a query, the minister said, “it may also deal with fake news, though there is no specific mention in this regard.”
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On the Centre of Excellence, Patil said: “It will be a software based learning lab system, it will be like a 3D digital lab and experience centre on Aerospace and Defence”. It was approved in 2017, the project started in 2020 and total operations are being started now. Noting that the centre of excellence is under PPP (public-private partnership) model with Dassault Systemes contributing ₹250 crore, he said the other stakeholders are: department of electronics, information technology, bio technology and science & technology through Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) and VTU.
The cabinet has also approved escalation in the cost of construction of Super Specialty Hospital coming up in the premises of Belagavi Medical College to ₹187 crore. Earlier, the cost of the project was 140 crore. Also administrative nod for ₹30.74 crore was given to have vehicle tracking and panic button system, along with centralised control room, for Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation vehicles.
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It was also decided to procure sunflower oil instead of palm oil for preparation of nutritious food at Anganwadis; the procurement will be made at an estimated cost of ₹66.04 crore. “Tenders will be called for this and for this switchover to sunflower there will be additional expenditure of ₹9.9 crores,” Patil said, adding that there are complaints about palm oil, and sunflower oils are easily available in the state. It was resolved to constitute a cabinet sub committee to look into levying property taxes on illegal constructions or buildings or properties with violations, and disputed lands under Mahanagara Palikes and urban local bodies in the state.
