Due to addiction, the village of Bansi in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district has outlawed the use of mobile phones by kids and teenagers younger than 18 years old.
A fine of Rs.20 will be imposed for anyone caught in breach of the resolution, which was “unanimously” accepted during a Gram Sabha on November 11, 2022.
According to Gajanan Tale, Sarpanch of Bansi Gram Panchayat, excessive and unrestrained screen time during COVID-19 has caused youngsters to become addicted to utilizing phones to play games or browse websites deemed improper for their age.
The implementation of this decision would be challenging, but we would first address the difficulties through counseling, Tale added. Any youngsters discovered using mobile devices will be fined. Although it’s unclear if kids had any input, officials indicated they approved of the prohibition.
In Mohityanche Vadgaon, a siren signals the start of a 1.5-hour detox every night at 7 o’clock, during which time residents put their electronics away.
Vijay Mohite, the head of the village, claimed to have come up with the concept as a one-time experiment, but as ASHA employees, social activists, and other villagers rallied around it, it spread to become a frequently observed practice.
“People focus on reading, studying, writing, and talking between 7 and 8.30 p.m. They put their cell phones away and turn off their televisions,” Mohite added.
