Mr. S. Sreedhar, President of the All India Retired Railway Men’s Federation (AIRRF), has long been committed to the welfare of retired railway employees. But his journey took a new direction when he and his wife, Mrs. Geetha, attended Digital Safety meetings in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, organised by HelpAge India in collaboration with AIRRF. The sessions opened up an urgent reality: many retired railway workers were increasingly vulnerable to online fraud, privacy breaches and digital misinformation.
The insights he gained—on secure browsing, recognising phishing attempts, protecting financial information and staying safe on social media—left a deep impact on him. Mr. Sreedhar realised that thousands of retired railway employees across the country faced similar risks, yet had little access to guidance or support. Determined to change this, he began organising digital safety awareness sessions for retired railway workers, partnering with experts to bring practical, easy-to-understand training directly to them.
What began as personal learning quickly turned into a movement. With clarity and conviction, he advocated for HelpAge India’s Digital Safety programme at the national level, meeting the concerned Minister to highlight why such support was vital for older railway pensioners. His efforts strengthened recognition of digital safety as an essential need for senior citizens.
Today, thanks to Mr. Sreedhar’s initiative, retired railway employees have gained more than just information—they have gained confidence. They are more aware of digital threats, better equipped to protect their finances, and more connected as a community that looks out for one another.
Through his leadership and compassion, Mr. Sreedhar has sparked a ripple of empowerment, helping ensure that retired railway men and women can navigate the digital world with security and dignity.
