The dangerous mobile ban

The dramatic killing of a female PU student inside a college hostel recently has clearly exposed the dark side of a decision taken unilaterally by college managements: A total ban on mobile phones in college campuses and hostels that leaves girls at the mercy of outsiders, even to communicate with their parents!

Institutions, both public and private, are guilty of this questionable decision, ironically taken to protect girl students from rapists and other anti-social elements! Despite parents repeatedly voicing their strong opposition to this, the rule has continued with an ‘official’ stamp! Will the recent murder episode force a rethink on this ban?
Mahesh, the attender who gunned down 18-year-old PU student, Gauthami at the Kadugodi-based Pragathi college, had been her parents’ only communication link to their daughter. He controlled their access to her, since no student was allowed to use a phone on her own. Therein lay the fault, a critical gap cleverly manipulated by the accused. 

Out of sight, out of touch, parents are often anxious about their daughters staying in distant hostels. Mobile phones, that now ubiquitous mode of communication, would have clearly kept them in touch, whenever, wherever. Not having access to it could lead to misuse and manipulation by intermediaries, as proven by the recent case.

House panel recommendation
Until now, the debate has been totally one-sided. In July last year, a House committee of the State Legislative Assembly had recommended the ban in all schools and colleges, although parents had serious reservations. The panel’s rationale: Mobile phones lead to a rise in rapes and endanger women’s safety.

The panel’s advice was fully backed by the State Women and Child Welfare Committee, which reasoned that the excessive use of the device would keep the students hooked to social media. No thought was apparently given to the phone as a safety device. What if a smartphone with proven safety apps actually helps prevent a crime?

The rule has been so strictly enforced that several college managements have confiscated phones, refusing to return them till the students complete their course. Here’s what Sneha Ashok, a city student, upset over this regulation has to say: “Children are the most important people in parents' lives and it is their right to be able to communicate with their wards. Institutions cannot stand in the way.”
Sneha’s observation finds an instant echo in what Azra Sidhan, mother of a daughter, says about the whole issue: “In today’s world, being in touch means talking to your loved one on a mobile phone. Although there are a few negative effects, banning its use in hostels is not the answer.”

No clear rules
Does the State Pre-University Department have clear rules that mobile phones be banned in all PU colleges? There is an apparent ambiguity about the existence of any such written law in the rules and regulations. But, according to the PU department director Sushma Godbole, phones are “conventionally” banned in all colleges.
C K Ram, principal of a government PU College, says although the ban on mobile phones is a known fact in all PU colleges, it is not clear whether there is anything like a written rule.

In 2009, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had brought in a proposal to restrict the use of mobile phones in schools not only for students but also for parents and teachers. Most CBSE schools do not allow their students to use phones within the campus. However, there is some leniency shown on the request of parents, especially for students of higher classes.

Alternative arrangements
In residential CBSE schools such as the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, there are certain set rules. For instance, at the JNV, Bagalur, phone booths have been placed separately for boys and girls in dormitories and near the warden’s residences. These are used to by students only under the supervision of wardens.

Students are allowed to make calls only during certain fixed hours, either in the afternoon or evening. Outstation students could call from the office phone once a week, again only during fixed timings. A warden’s phone can be used only in case of emergencies.

Here’s what the school principal, B Venkateshwaran has to say about the arrangement: “CBSE has banned the use of mobile phones in all 593 schools all over the country. However, we have made our own separate alternative arrangements for students.”

What the police say
Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Alok Kumar feels even in the Gowthami murder case, a dedicated landline could have avoided an intermediary like Mahesh. “Banning mobile phones is a subjective matter. But there is no denying the fact that there should be a communication link for students and parents. A landline could have sufficed,” he contends.

However, adds Kumar, the mobile phone too could be a distraction for youngsters. “But when students are moving around all alone outside, the device could have its benefits. Within the confines of a hostel, a landline could work well,” says he. City police commissioner, M N Reddi declined to comment, although he indicated that the lack of a direct communication link could have played a role in Gowthami’s murder.
In September, 2009, the State Department of Collegiate Education had come out with a circular banning use of mobile phones in all 357 government and 299 private aided degree colleges. This ban was applicable across Karnataka, and was binding even on teachers and non-teaching staff.

But there was a difference. The phones could be carried as long as they were in silent mode. The Commissioner of Collegiate Education had clearly stated that the managements could confiscate the phone even if it rang once.