Karnataka Health Minister Advocates for National Discussion on Social Media Regulation for Schoolchildren
In a significant move addressing growing concerns over digital addiction among youth, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced on Saturday that he will formally write to Union Health Minister JP Nadda. The objective is to initiate a national-level discussion on regulating social media usage among schoolchildren across India.
Rising Concerns Over Digital Addiction and Mental Well-being
Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, Minister Rao highlighted that the health department has extensively discussed the issue of digital addiction, which is increasingly affecting the mental health of young individuals. "The health department discussed the issue of digital addiction that affected the mental well-being of youngsters," he stated.
Rao pointed to international examples, noting that Australia has already implemented a ban on social media use for children under 16. He emphasized that India needs to follow suit by creating awareness among children and addressing this critical issue at a national level. "We also need to create awareness among children, and the issue needs to be discussed at the national level," he added.
Post-Pandemic Digital Learning and the Need for Regulation
The minister explained that the expansion of digital learning following the Covid-19 pandemic has led to increased reliance on computers and mobile phones for educational purposes. While this shift has facilitated learning, it has also made regulations on social media use more necessary than ever. "Digital learning expanded after the Covid-19 pandemic, leading children to use computers and mobile phones for their studies. He added that this made regulations on social media use necessary," Rao remarked.
Response to Contractors' Association Allegations
In a separate development, Minister Rao addressed the allegations made by the Karnataka State Contractors' Association, which accused the government of collecting commissions and highlighted pending bills worth Rs 37,370 crore. Rao defended the government, stating that it is unfair to accuse them of such practices. "It was not fair for the association to accuse the govt of collecting commissions," he said.
He clarified that development works are ongoing in the state, and it is common for bills to remain pending in every government. Rao urged the association to engage in discussions with the government to resolve the issue. "The association should discuss with the govt and try to solve the issue. The bills are pending for clearance in the state," he noted.
Additionally, Rao highlighted that the central government has failed to release state dues worth thousands of crores, further complicating the financial situation. He dismissed the commission allegations as far from the truth and challenged contractors to submit evidence if they have any. "The very purpose of making such allegations and seeking publicity leads to suspicion over their intention," he asserted.
No Comment on Confident Group Chairman's Suicide Case
When questioned about the alleged suicide of Confident Group Chairman CJ Roy, Minister Rao declined to comment, citing a lack of information. "It is not possible to comment on the alleged harassment in the suicide case, as I do not know why it happened," he said.
However, he expressed concerns over the potential misuse of government agencies for political purposes. "However, the income tax department is being used for political purposes. I am not sure if this happened in this case, too," Rao added, without elaborating further on the specific incident.
