UP Women's Commission Chief Calls for Mobile Phone Restrictions After Ghaziabad Tragedy
In the wake of the heartbreaking deaths of three sisters in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission chairperson Babita Rani has taken decisive action by writing to all district magistrates across the state. She has urged them to issue directives to schools, explicitly prohibiting any mobile phone interactions with students up to Class 5 and their parents.
The Tragic Incident That Sparked the Action
On Wednesday morning, three sisters aged 12, 14, and 16 jumped from the ninth floor of their apartment in Ghaziabad's Bharat City township. Initial police reports suggested the tragedy occurred after their father objected to their "excessive online gaming" and took away their phones. Further investigation revealed the girls were deeply immersed in Korean culture, consuming online content and games, and had left behind a note mentioning several online games.
Babita Rani's Directives to Schools
Speaking exclusively, Rani emphasized that schools must completely stop sending homework, conducting online classes, or any school-related activities via mobile phones for young children. "If communication is necessary, it should be strictly limited to parents only," she stated firmly. The chairperson plans to hold urgent meetings with school authorities to implement these measures effectively.
Rani highlighted that while mobile phones were unavoidable during the COVID-19 pandemic for online education, this is no longer the case. "We had no option during Covid but to make children sit with phones. But it is not compulsory now," she explained, stressing the need to revert to traditional methods for younger students.
The Broader Concern: Mobile Addiction and Family Dynamics
The commission chief expressed long-standing concerns about children's mobile phone usage, noting that the Ghaziabad incident has made administrative intervention unavoidable. She warned about the dangerous trend of families using the word 'space', which she believes is damaging family bonds. "Parents and children have developed the habit of asking for 'space'. This has been ruining families... children withdraw and become lonely, spending most of their time with mobile phones," Rani observed, linking this isolation to tragic outcomes.
Specific Recommendations for Implementation
In her official communication to district magistrates, Babita Rani outlined clear guidelines:
- Schools must establish strict monitoring of mobile phone use by students up to Class 5.
- No homework or school activities should be assigned or communicated through mobile devices for this age group.
- All school-related communication should be directed exclusively to parents through alternative channels.
- Educational institutions need to develop awareness programs about the risks of excessive screen time and online addiction.
This tragic event has sparked a crucial conversation about child safety in the digital age, with the Uttar Pradesh Women's Commission taking a proactive stance to prevent similar incidents through structured policy interventions.
