JAIPUR: A village panchayat in Jhunjhunu district’s Udaipurwati area has banned girls below the age of 18 years from using mobile phones in the village. The panchayat has also issued an order that girls should wear stoles while going out of their homes.
The orders have been issued by the Kishorpura village panchayat. According to the panchayat members, these orders were issued so that girls are not "spoiled" by excessive use of cellphones.
"The panchayat members held a meeting with elders recently. The elders insisted that such a ban should be imposed in the village as more and more girls are carrying mobile phones," a panchayat member said.
He added that several cases had come up in which the girls were found to be in trouble due to use of mobile phones. "They receive prank calls frequently. Besides, use of cell phone distracts them from their studies," the member said on condition of anonymity.
In other orders, the panchayat has also directed the girls to use stoles (chunni) always while going out of their homes. The panchayat has also asked grown-up women to keep their heads covered. It has also banned minor boys from playing music on their cellphones.