Centres to combat mobile addiction among kids mooted

MANGALURU: Dakshina Kannada district is all set to get a new de-addiction centre, exclusively for children who are addicted to mobile devices.
Based on the directions of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), the Dakshina Kannada District Child Rights Protection unit has proposed a de-addiction centre for children who are glued to mobile phones and other gadgets.Even as offline classes resumed in all educational institutions, many children are still battling phone addiction, after they were dependent on mobile phones and laptops during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Commission for Protection of Child Rights had directed for the setting up of a mobile de-addiction centre in the district, based on the suggestions of children who participated in a recent interaction programme.
Dakshina Kannada deputy director of public instruction (DDPI) K Sudhakar told TOI that a suggestion was made by the commission, that a centre may be opened in Dakshina Kannada district, for children who are addicted to mobile phones. “The matter was discussed during the interaction programme, and the district child protection officer (DCPO) will follow it up,” he said.
DCPO Yamuna said that a proposal to set up a centre will be sent to the KSCPCR. “We will send the proposal to the commission, seeking recommendation to the government, to set up a centre in the district. The commission has taken note of the issue seriously. They have also done documentation, in connection with the suggestions to open centres in the district,” she added.
A child had presented the problems children faced due to mobile addiction, at the interaction programme organised recently by the KSPCR, in association with the Dakshina Kannada District Legal Services Authority, departments of women and child development, public instruction and district child protection unit. KSPCR member D Shankarappa had directed officials to submit a report on the proposal to set up a mobile de-addiction centre to the commission.