Will parents think seriously over getting rid of mobiles?
   Date :18-Sep-2019

 
By Vikas Vaidya:
 
There is one video gone viral some months ago. The scene in the video is one child of age less than a year lying on the bed watching cartoon film on mobile. The mobile is kept on a stool in such a way that the child could watch it. The mother comes and remove the mobile from the stool to change the bedsheet. As and when she removes the mobile, the child starts crying aggressively. Horrified by the reaction by child, the mother keeps back the mobile on stool and with immediate effect child stops crying. This video depicts the right picture of rising addiction of mobile phones in children, youngsters. The video also brings the reason behind rising addiction, to the fore --- the parent, here the mother, who wants to complete her work peacefully without any disturbance from the child. Such children with their growth learn many things of the mobile which they should not have and spoil their physical as well as mental health.
 
Nowadays, communication has stopped, creativity is reducing, thinking ability is depleting, reading habit is on the verge of dying. Moreover, heinous crimes like rape, murder, dacoit, too, have been increased, one of the responsible factors is mobile. With this perception ‘The Hitavada’ contacted youngsters, teachers, psychiatrists for their views on mobile phones addiction. Laksh Sadhwani, an upcoming young businessman blamed parents for making mobile available to children. “Small children are given mobile just to keep them calm and quiet. How our forefathers handled our parents when there was no mobile? How many damages mobile registers, we can not count.
 
You see, most of the children have started using specs which is the outcome of mobiles. I don’t say mobile is bad, but we should teach children the judicious use of the technology. It is always said technology is curse or boon. It can be boon if it is used in proper manner,” pointed out Laksh Sadhwani. “My parents never let me indulged in electronic gadgets. I got to see mobile only when the results of my 10th class are out. After a lot of struggle I got mobile that too was very simple, so that I could be able to be in touch with my family. But around me the things are not that easy. Cyber crimes are on rise. My friend’s sister is 24X7 on Netflix. Mobile brought laziness among the youngsters. They are not playing outdoor games. They don’t know gilli danda, Kanche.
 
For them outer world is totally disconnected. Their only world is mobile,” regretted Laksh. Reena Dargan, Principal of Ira International and Chairman of Sahodaya Group of CBSE schools conducts wonderful activities in her school. First thing they do is, if any child brings mobile with it, the school ask them to deposit in the school locker. No children can use any such gadget in school. “We conduct sessions for parents. There are two sessions--one is ‘Know your child’s gadget addiction’ and other ‘how to get rid of it?’--We ask parents whether they too are addicted with mobile, because children learn from their parents. We appeal parents to try not to touch mobile during particular time period. If parents don’t use mobile and give the time to the children, they can authoritatively prevent them from using it. It is a circle where we make parents aware of addiction and how they should prevent their children from it. Parents then make aware the children and this goes on,”pointed out Dargan.
 
Whether she being Chairman of Sahodaya Group of CBSE schools, wants to bring certain guidelines in other schools also? Reena Dargan replied, “Bringing guidelines is not possible, but most of the schools are very much aware on this issue. We always share our ideas about preventing children from such gadgets. In Nagpur schools at least we take all care where such evils should not touch our angels.” Dr Sujata Deo, Professor in Chemistry with Institute of Science categorises mobile user in three. “There are 10% students who don’t see mobile ever, 40% have the sense of judicious use, 50% youngsters are always on mobile. I strongly fees, addiction takes place from childhood. My son was never addict.
 
I don’t want to blow my own trumpet but we gave him lot of time. We did have a time to talk to him and we had made it a habit of not seeing mobile unless there is urgency. Parents have bigger role to play. Unfortunately, parents too have become addict so morally they have lost the right to ask their children to stay away from mobile. Modern mothers show rhyms on mobile to children. Many of them don’t know stories so what would they tell? We too are not firm in learning. The other day I was telling story of Yama and Nachiketa and I could see the expressions on the faces of students which were blank. When they searched it on google, the search engine had different story to tell. This is technology.” Dr Nikhil Pande, noted Psychiatrist saw it from psychiatric angle. He pointed out, “Mobile addiction can one of the factors leading to depression or the ones who are depressed check such gadgets frequently. Those who have social anxiety, they don’t have friends.
 
They start expressing on mobile. Mobile becomes a toy for them and they play on it all the time. They don’t have to do anything, videos keep coming, they download and see all the time. To do active work one needs energy. People have hobbies to take selfies and get maximum likes on it. This trend too is on rise. There are several examples of such addiction. But counseling oneself to get control on ones mind is very important. Judicious use of mobile is one thing but one must try to learn the art of saying no to mobile after certain time.” Pratik Kadao, a young Zonal Sales Manager, Gracewell Division, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd is a modern father and his wife is modern mother. But both avoid using mobile at home.
 
He said, “I have lot of work and there is no alternative to mobile as my profession demands. But with love for our children we both husband and wife do minimal use of mobile. We learn from people around us the ill-hazards of mobile use and we don’t want our children to fall prey to this devil,” said Pratik Kadao. Pratik Kadao said there are advantages and disadvantages of mobile. But children are not able to differentiate. “Mostly We parents are responsible for giving mobiles to children. They get attracted towards mobile very easily. Before giving mobile if we put mobile on flight mode we can avoid radiation passing into our children. In nutshell, we should be able to give them time, if that happens then children will never turn towards mobile,” said Pratik. Kaustubh Katdare, young entrepreneur, Managing Director of Crazy Engineers bluntly opined, technology is curse more. People are finding themselves lost while using mobile. Social media is unchecked. Earlier computers at homes were used for watching movies. Now everything is available on mobile.
 
I don’t much details about it, but there is some term ludic look where one’s adrenalin gets shoot up, the moment he or she gets notification on mobile. And I would like to say loud clear, whenever anybody says he or she uses mobile judiciously, they are lying. Most people are under stress, ‘Why do I not get SMS or notification?’ Notifications keep coming and try to attract the users. People keep using videos, apps one after another and get entangled into it. We don’t have control.” Pratik Harde and his young friends Prateek and Ritu Malhotra all known for their creative entrepreneurship. He feels, understanding of usage of mobile should be there.
 
Parents want to stay away from needs of their children so they handover this useless gadget to them. The child initially does not understand and it actually hates the gadget. The child gets happy out of presence of parents, spending time with them. But on their insistence, he or she finally gets used to it. Later on the only hobby of child remains mobile use. Naturally the bad things in cell attract him and he became habitual of the mobile. Parents must find steps to get rid of mobile, said Pratik Harde.