Smoking, liquor has always been out of bounds for minors. But now mobile phones too will follow suit in Karnataka.
The state government has announced that mobile phones shall not be sold to children below the age of 16. This would mean that there shall be a statutory warning outside mobile shops saying that children below 16 will not be entitled to buy mobile phones.
This announcement was made by Minister of State for Education Basavaraj Horatti. He also announced that the use of mobile phones will be banned in all schools and colleges. Horatti said that mobile phones are a hindrance to a child and hence it was in their best interests that it is banned.
Horatti said that the issue would be discussed in the Cabinet and then an official order would be passed. The order will also spell out the punishment to those selling mobiles to children below the age of 16. The ban on the usage of mobile phones will also apply to professional colleges.
Now here are some very simple questions that I want to ask honorable minister.
Q1: How many kids of 16 year can afford to buy a cell phone for themselves?
In India, very rarely it happens that a child starts earning before the age of 18. In only cities like Bangalore that it is possible that kids can do odd jobs and small time internships to earn their pocket money. Its a trend that is just catching up. But again it hardly matches to salaries that will enable them to buy cell phone [specially when everyone wants the most jazzy one these days]. Coffee and movies hogs it all from their pocket.
Another group of 16 years who earn are the kids who are actually doing it for their living. Domestic helps, mechanic shop helps and other such labour work. They toil their day and night for the luxury of a so-called comfortable life. If such kid buy a cell phone from their earnings, it is their decision. Moreover they are not the ones who use the mobile day in and day out. Somehow I feel this is not the crowd Mr minister wants to address.
Q2. Is cell phone really more harmful that lets say drinking or smoking?
Drinking and smoking is banned for minors [as per Indian laws, a person is minor till he completes age of 18 years]. But how far is the government able to implement this law? Pubs and Bars in this city seem to have flooded with kids. Very rarely do the pub admins check the age proof while giving entry to someone. And this is just the organized side of business. What about those thousands of Liquor Shops and Panwala shops which make these things available for anyone anywhere. What is the logic of such laws that can not be properly implemented.
Q3. Is cell phone such a big menace after all?
There have been innumerable studies happening all around the world dealing with effects of cellphones. They have been trying to prove that cell phone can cause you so much harm - from brain cancer to impotency. Its like the universal reason for all the problems. The scope of such studies and their result can hardly be verified and applied as a general rule as this is a really vast area. The government simply comes up with this reasoning that cell phones are harmful for kids and thus they should not be allowed to use it. This is only till they are 16 years of age. On their 16th birthday, the harmfulness of cellphone goes with the tick of clock. And its all fine then.
What crap!!!
Teachers have raised objections on use of cell phones in class rooms. This is a valid point as it does affect the concentration levels in class. But a blanket ban does not serve the purpose. VTU has tried implementing a similar ban in its affiliated colleges. After the initial hoopla, everything has come back to normal. How long can they keep checking of cell phones in students' bags. After all there is one more noble and important task that they have to accomplish - to teach kids. Clearly approach to such issue has to be more novel than a blanket ban.
Government really needs to use their brain, that is if it has any.
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