Jalandhar, August 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar on Tuesday called upon young women to take a leading role in shaping India’s artificial intelligence future while remaining alert to digital risks, cybercrime and legal rights.
Addressing students, faculty members and young aspirants at Lovely Professional University (LPU) during the ‘Yashoda AI – Women’s Path to AI Empowerment’ programme, Rahatkar spoke about artificial intelligence, digital safety, legal literacy and women’s leadership.
She said the vision of a developed India by 2047 could not be realised without women playing a leading role in the country’s technological advancement. She urged students to approach AI with confidence and responsibility, cautioning against blind dependence on technology.
Rahatkar highlighted emerging risks associated with the misuse of AI, including cyber harassment, deepfakes and manipulated digital content. She stressed that privacy, ethics and informed decision-making must accompany digital skills.
The NCW Chairperson also emphasised the importance of legal awareness among women and encouraged students to familiarise themselves with laws concerning women’s and children’s safety, including the POSH Act, POCSO Act, Domestic Violence Act and cyber laws dealing with online abuse, image morphing and digital harassment.
She also highlighted support mechanisms and urged students to remember helpline numbers, including 181 for women, 112 for police assistance and 14490 for counselling and support through the National Commission for Women.
Dr Ashok Kumar Mittal, Rajya Sabha MP and Founder Chancellor of LPU, said AI had become an integral part of modern life and young people must learn to use the technology with confidence and purpose.
Mittal said women at LPU had consistently set benchmarks in academics, research, entrepreneurship and international sports, adding that the next phase of women’s leadership should focus on AI and emerging technologies.
He said women should not merely use AI but also contribute to shaping the technology and developing solutions that serve society.
The programme was also attended by LPU Pro-Chancellor Col. Dr Rashmi Mittal, Vice Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu and Ram Avatar Singh, Deputy Director, National Commission for Women.
The interaction strengthened LPU’s ongoing efforts towards women’s empowerment and provided students with a platform to engage with issues surrounding technology, safety, legal rights and leadership in the AI era.
Rahatkar also expressed confidence that the collaboration between the NCW and LPU would continue to expand in line with the broader objective of building an inclusive and technologically empowered India.
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