In view of the increasing problem of screen addiction among children, the Karnataka government has introduced a comprehensive draft policy, which aims to promote responsible digital usage among students. This initiative has been prepared by a joint effort of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka State Mental Health Authority and NIMHANS.
The main focus of this policy is to improve the mental health, emotional balance and digital awareness of the students. According to studies included in the draft, about 25 percent of teens show signs of Internet addiction, which is linked to anxiety, sleep problems and decreased attention span.
Mainly for whom was this policy made?
This policy has been made mainly keeping in mind the students, teachers and parents of classes 9 to 12. It plans to work at three levels—government instructions, training programs for teachers and active dialogue with parents. Under the policy, schools will have to include digital wellness in their curriculum, in which education will be given on topics like online safety, privacy, cyber bullying and balanced screen time.
A major recommendation of this draft is that apart from studies, screen time for entertainment should be limited to one hour daily. It has also been suggested to form a Digital Wellness Committee in schools, which will include teachers, counsellors, parents and representatives of cyber crime police.
Emphasis on encouraging offline activities among students
The policy also emphasizes that signs of excessive screen use such as behavioral changes, social isolation and decline in academic performance should be identified early. For this, teachers will be given special training, so that they can identify such cases and provide counseling and other help to the students.
Additionally, it is recommended to implement initiatives such as outdoor activities, hobby clubs and digital detox programs such as ‘No Technology Day’ and ‘Offline Joy’ to encourage students towards offline activities. Schools have also been advised to use traditional methods such as diary systems instead of messaging apps to communicate with students.
Role of parents considered important in policy
The role of parents has also been described as important in this policy. They have been encouraged to have open conversations about device-free time at home, regular routines and online safety. Besides, parents themselves have been advised to adopt responsible digital behaviour. This initiative is being considered an important step towards reducing the increasing digital dependence among students and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
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