Kolkata Dawoodi Bohras ban mobile use by community kids below 15
Times of India | 31 December 2024
Kolkata: Over the past 10 days, the 5,000-strong Dawoodi Bohra community in Kolkata has ushered in a dramatic lifestyle change to wean children away from cell phones. While some parents have enrolled their kids in winter boot camps, others have bought board games and books, and most have reorganised their schedules to increase family time.
The urgency follows a 'firman' on Dec 19 by the community's supreme leader, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, calling for a global ban on the use of cell phones by all community children below the age of 15.
The edict follows similar attempts in Europe and Australia to reduce children's screen time. While some European countries, including France, Italy, Portugal and the UK, have restricted cell phone use in schools, Australia recently introduced a legislation banning children under 16 from using social media.
Saifee Golden Jubilee English Public School, popularly known as Saifee Hall, the largest school run by the community in Kolkata, is introducing more sports facilities. School secretary Saifuddin Mandviwala said parents have been counselled on ways to divert their kids' attention from cell phones.
"More than 90% of parents have succeeded in convincing their children to give up their mobile phones. Most parents wanted to do something to reduce their kids' screen time. Now that there is a directive from the top, they have a legitimate reason to take cell phones away and replace them with activities and books," said Mandviwala.
Some of the parents TOI spoke to said they were making efforts to introduce meaningful activities for their children and were themselves not using mobile phones when at home.
'To change cellphone habits, parents have to set example'
Event manager Zainab Zarif Huzurala said, "We as parents are to blame for cellphone addiction among children. Now, the onus is on us to remedy the situation. I admitted my five-year-old daughter to a winter camp where multiple creative activities are keeping them engaged. My elder daughter, who is 13, voluntarily gave up her phone after learning about the edict and is spending more time sketching and painting."
Some parents conceded they initially had trouble implementing the directive. "To change habits, we have to set an example. I am trying to reduce cell phone use before my children, but in today's world it is extremely difficult," said a member of the community.
Doctors have for some time been warning against screen addiction among children and its negative impact. Teachers have also complained that obsessive use of cell phones leads to attention deficit among children.
"More recently, teachers have expressed concern over students using artificial intelligence chatbots to do their homework," said Nafisa Kalangi, vice-principal of MSB Educational Institution, a community school in Topsia.
Sociologist Saswati Ghosh applauded the initiative and felt it could have a rub-off effect on other communities. "But if we try to enforce it, there could be rebellion at home," she said, adding that families would have to prioritise children, reorganise family timefor the movement to succeed.
Clinical psychologist Sreemoyee Tarafder said, "Rationing use of cellphones and net is very important for cognitive growth of children and students."
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