Ban on mobile phones for school girls in Mehasana, Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visualized a Digital India where the reach of latest technology would reach the farthest corner of the country. But, in a village in Mehsana district of Gujarat, a ban has been imposed on the use or ownership of mobile phones. It is claimed that the gadget distracts the schoolkids from studies.
This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 22 February 2016.

The village is Suraj village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana and a fine of Rs 2,100 will be levied on minor girls who are found to be using or be in possession of mobile phones. However, they will only be allowed to use the mobile phones of their parents inside the house. It was a unanimous decision of the panchayat because the majority of villagers felt that mobile phones are creating problems for girls and their parents.
The village panchayat considers the cell phone to be a tool used by lovestruck youngsters to elope from homes. The ban would apply to all school girls who are under 18 years old and members of all the communities, be it Dalit, Patel, Thakor or Rabari, have agreed on it.
The ban is only for school girls and women who are attending college have been spared by the panchayat because college girls are mature enough to differentiate between good and bad. Also, they also need mobile phone to stay connected with their parents since colleges are located in nearby cities not in our village.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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