Sitharaman calls for making cyber space safe for women

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed Thursday on the importance of ensuring women safety in cyber space as it is increasingly becoming the instrument through which women work.

Speaking at the 19th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World, organised by Lucknow’s City Montessori School, Sitharaman said safety of women in cyber space has to be dealt with.

“Women space is not just your family home. The public

out of the mindset of looking at the India market alone.

“I appeal to you all to get out of that mindset. There are several other countries which are buying (defence equipment) that do not have the capacity to produce. They never had a history of attempting to produce defence components. Look at markets outside. Make in India is not just for making in India,” she said. Sitharaman assured the gathering that the government spaces which are available for men like parks, public transport or theatre are spaces where women should feel safe, not just be safe but also feel safe,” she said.

She said, “There is a need to ensure safety of women in cyber space. The cyber space is increasingly becoming the instrument through which women work or give productive time.”

She said that if the virtual space is not made safe for women then “we are in a very difficult situation”.

will make sure the industry gets every possible help to export their products.

To encourage domestic defence manufacturers, she said, several items have been removed from the list that was earlier reserved for ordnance factories and defence public sector undertakings.

She also said the government’s ‘Make in India’ project is not just on paper and that orders have been placed.