Karnataka Drafts Digital Wellness Policy for Students

The India===Karnataka government has unveiled a draft policy to address the growing concerns around excessive and unsafe digital technology use among students. Developed by the India===Department of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the India===National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, the policy focuses on mental health, cyber safety, and responsible digital behavior. State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao highlighted the negative effects of mobile phones, such as anxiety, cyber-bullying, and social isolation. The policy proposes integrating digital literacy, mental health awareness, and cyber safety into the education system, with directives for schools to formulate their own digital use policies, cap recreational screen time at one hour per day, and provide counselling support. It also emphasizes teacher training, parental involvement, and the promotion of offline activities to ensure balanced development among students. Monitoring systems, including access to India===Tele-MANAS, will be established to track digital distress and provide support.