Odisha, like the rest of India, has witnessed a sharp rise in cybercrimes, particularly those targeting women and queer individuals. From the non-consensual circulation of intimate images to deep fake pornographic content, such violations are increasingly common on university campuses, public social media, and private online spaces. In fact, according to 2022 NCRB data Odisha emerges as the top state with the highest number of recorded cybercrimes against women.
On April 26, 2025, a citizen-led discussion took place in Bhubaneswar under the banner of Speak Against Violence, a collective fighting against gender based violence targeting women and queer people in Odisha. The discussion was centred around an analysis of the Odisha State Govt. budget to address cyber violence against women in Odisha. Participants in the gathering addressed pressing questions about Odisha’s budgetary priorities, structural inadequacies in handling cybercrime, and the deep-rooted cultural challenges survivors face in their search for justice. The event took the form of a collaborative discussion without any hierarchical or organisational control. Citizens, students, researchers, survivors, activists, and lawyers came together to discuss, listen, and imagine collective solutions.
This report synthesises the outcomes of the event, supported by recent budget analyses, NCRB data, and lived experiences shared by participants. It seeks to document emerging public concerns around cybersecurity and offer actionable recommendations for systemic reform.
In our research on looking at cybercrime in Odisha, we also found certain curious cases to put in context the magnitude of the issue of cybercrime at large in Odisha & compare it to the State Govt.’s response in terms of its budgetary priorities. We found that in 2024, a staggering ₹2.5 lakh crore was reported as the total amount swindled through cyber fraud in just Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. This figure nearly equals the state’s entire 2025-26 budget of ₹2.9 lakh crore. Despite this, only ₹30 crore has been earmarked for cybersecurity measures, including ₹10 crore for AI-driven predictive policing and ₹20 crore for a Centre of Excellence in Cybersecurity.
The discussion repeatedly returned to this disproportion. Of the 612 police stations in Odisha, only 15 are cybercrime units, and just 12 are currently functional. That is roughly one cyber station per 30 lakh people. Odisha’s digital enforcement system is thus woefully under-resourced and severely overstretched.
The researchers on the Odisha budget for the event were critical of the inaccessibility of Odisha’s budget documents, which often switch between crore and million without any coherence on the decimal or currency system employed. This inconsistency & lack of coherence make public scrutiny difficult. They noted that spending on predictive policing technologies (e.g., AI tools) appears prioritised over grassroots capacity-building, such as training personnel or opening more cybercrime units in vulnerable districts.
While there was consensus that sensitisation drives for law enforcement personnel & capacity building would be beneficial for addressing cybercrime & gendered violence against women & queer people, the group had a layered take on whether creating more cyber police stations in addition to blind investment in tech-based policing is how we address the disproportional magnitude of this problem in comparison to the state budget its allocated.
While the ratio of 1:30 (one police station per thirty lakh people) is a staggeringly skewed magnitude, indicating the sheer lack of resources allotted to this issue, many participants wondered whether an increase purely in terms of the number of police stations will be the most effective strategy to combat this issue.
Some participants shared personal stories where police officers refused to register FIRs against sexual violence perpetrated on them, either due to performance concerns, extra workload or the pervasive cultural stigma of society that is internalised in law enforcement personnel. They recalled traumatic experiences of being re-victimised by the apathy of a justice system that refuses to address crime beyond punitive measures often silencing or invisibilizing victim’s voices. One participant reflected, “Our institutions are not neutral. They carry the biases of society.
Tangentially, addressing the larger discourse of reparative justice as the more effective approach to mitigate & prevent crime including gender based violence against women & queer people, researchers also dwelled on the colonial origins of the institution of police in India; it administrative & rigid architecture taking shape post-1857 sepoy revolt in India to control & discipline the citizens rather than addressing matters of justice. Thus, relying solely on punitive justice without reforming these structures could never fully protect or empower victims.
Many argued that punishment does not deter crime, especially when victims are made to carry the burden of shame, silence, and social stigma. Some queer and trans participants shared how cyber harassment and blackmail on dating apps often go unreported because they fear further discrimination. The group advocated for a justice model that centres victims’ voices and enables healing. They discussed the need to move beyond the “victim-perpetrator” binary and create space for reform and rehabilitation of perpetrators while ensuring victim dignity and safety.
The event also explored how digital platforms are weaponised against LGBTQIA+ individuals. Cis-het men on dating apps often coerce queer people into sharing private media, which is then used for extortion. Participants emphasised the urgent need for NCRB data to start recognising crimes against queer people under relevant categories like sexual orientation and gender identity. The lack of data leads to a lack of policy.
Furthermore, media outlets have been guilty of airing or leaking sensitive/often derogatory clips that harm queer victims, perpetuating a cycle of violence and trauma. Such unethical practices of media within digital landscapes must also be addressed by the State & Law Enforcement with strict regulations to uphold the dignity of queer citizens of the country.
The campaign #EraseTheShame has been one initiative by ‘Safe Odisha For Her’ that has been created since December 2024 to address cybercrime against women that offers a hopeful instance of public mobilisation in this context. Introduced to address the growing trend of the viral spread of sexually explicit content online, particularly involving college students. The campaign demands include: Immediate removal of all non-consensual and violent videos from the internet and Stricter action by Odisha’s cybercrime department to investigate and prosecute digital violence to prevent future victim shaming
This petition is hosted on change.org platform www.change.org/erasetheshame & slowly gaining traction, calling on the Home Department to take swift, transparent, and victim-centred action. We hope with further citizen-led discussions, this campaign’s demands are heard & met by the State.
The discussion concluded with a clear set of demands aimed at transforming how Odisha addresses cybercrime, particularly against women and queer individuals. Participants strongly advocated for the expansion of cyber infrastructure, calling for an increase in the number of cyber police stations from the current 15 to at least 50, ensuring that each district has a dedicated cyber unit.
They demanded a significant budgetary allocation of ₹500 crores for cybercrime response, noting that the current allocation amounts to a mere 0.002% of the state budget and is grossly inadequate to meet the scale of the crisis. Emphasis was placed on creating victim-centric justice models that include free legal aid, therapy, and social support, recognising that survivors often face institutional apathy and trauma without adequate redress.
The need for mandatory gender and digital violence sensitisation training for law enforcement and the judiciary was underscored as essential for systemic change. A critical demand was the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ identities in crime categorisation, so that digital violence against queer people is acknowledged and addressed in official crime statistics and policies. Participants also called for greater transparency in budgeting processes, urging the government to make financial documents publicly accessible and understandable to facilitate citizen oversight.
In addition to state-led efforts, the group emphasised the importance of community-led mechanisms—civil forums where victims can share their experiences and seek redress safely and without fear. Finally, they demanded an end to the criminalisation and shaming of survivors, insisting that justice systems stop treating victims as accomplices or silencing them through social stigma. These eight demands together represent a comprehensive and urgent call for both structural and cultural reform in the state’s approach to cybercrime and gender justice.
In an increasingly online world, where social media becomes both a space of expression and a violation, this report serves as a public document of urgency. Odisha must act not just with policy, but with vision, compassion, and courage.
‘Speak Against Violence’ is not a seminar, it is a collective act of public resistance, empathy, and knowledge-sharing. It revealed how state silence, budgetary apathy, and institutional violence intersect in the realm of digital harm. The event’s strength lay in its structure: collaborative, leaderless, and intersectional. By centring lived experiences and calling out structural gaps, participants demanded more than just reform. They demanded a complete rethinking of how justice is imagined and delivered in the digital age. It is a monthly circle happen last Saturday of every month from 4pm onwards in Bhubaneswar. To be part of it, email at safeodishaforher@gmail.com
1) Akankshya Mahapatra is a freelance writer and researcher with a Master’s in biotechnology. She is interested in exploring the intersections of gender, history & law while aiming to pursue a PhD in climate change & gender.
2) Rajlaxmi is pursuing her undergraduate degree in English Literature from Ravenshaw University.
We remain committed to amplifying these critical conversations and pushing for structural changes to make the digital space safer for all genders.
https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2025/05/cybercrime-against-women-and-queer-communities-in-odisha
