Halaga’s Screen-Free Evenings Inspire Karnataka

Keeping children’s health and education at the forefront, Halaga village in Bailhongal taluk has taken a progressive decision to switch off mobile phones and televisions every evening from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

This initiative has positioned Halaga as a model village, taking a meaningful step towards shaping a better future for its children.

A similar programme was earlier implemented in a village of Sangli district in Maharashtra, where it gained significant importance. The initiative was introduced by a district administration there to control the negative impact of excessive mobile phone usage and television viewing on school and college students. Due to its positive results, the programme proved to be highly effective.

Inspired by this success, the residents of Halaga adopted the same policy, thereby setting an example for villages across the state.

In Halaga, as soon as the clock strikes 7:00 pm, a siren from the Gram Panchayat signals the beginning of the restriction. Following this, families switch off their mobile phones and televisions. Mobile usage is permitted only in emergency situations. Villagers strongly believe that this practice will greatly support their children’s learning, concentration, and overall development.

The initiative also serves as a reminder to parents who usually spend their evenings watching television serials with their children, urging them to reflect on the impact of such habits. In an age where many parents hand over mobile phones to children just to stop them from crying, Halaga’s collective decision to introduce such a disciplined approach stands out as truly commendable.

Reporter: Ravikiran Yatagere