Bagalkot: In a decisive move to prevent student suicides and promote mental well-being, the use of mobile phones by students has been strictly banned in all schools and colleges across the district, Deputy Commissioner Sangappa said on Monday.
He noted this while chairing the district-level Child Monitoring Committee meeting at the DC’s office here. Sangappa said that students are under increasing psychological stress, and banning mobile phone use during school and college hours is a necessary step to alleviate this pressure.
Strict enforcement
He directed the deputy directors of the Department of School Education and the Department of Pre-University Education to ensure that the ban is strictly enforced in all government and private educational institutions and training centres.
Citing the Supreme Court’s directives aimed at safeguarding students’ mental health and well-being, the DC referred to 15 key guidelines, including the implementation of a uniform mental health policy, provision of mental health support, safe learning environments, and discrimination-free education. He said that a district-level monitoring committee has been formed in accordance with these guidelines.
All educational institutions with 100 or more students must appoint at least one trained counsellor, psychologist, or social worker.
During exams and academic transitions, dedicated mentors and counsellors must be deployed to provide stable, confidential, and informal support to students.
Sangappa emphasised that students should not be segregated based on academic performance or have unrealistic academic goals.
Every school and college must establish a counselling centre, and teachers must be educated on how to interact with students sensitively and supportively.
ZP CEO Shashidhar Kurer stressed the need to train both teaching and non-teaching staff in mental health first aid, early identification of distress, self-harm intervention, and related procedures with the help of trained mental health professionals.
Awareness
He also instructed schools to conduct regular parent-teacher meetings to raise awareness about rising student suicides and organise awareness rallies at school, taluk, and district levels.
Various district officials, including Additional Deputy Commissioner Ashok Teli, DDPI Ajith Mannikeri, DDPU Pundalik Kamble, District Surgeon Dr Mahesh Koni, Women & Child Development Department Deputy Director Prabhakar K, Backward Classes Welfare Officer Eerappa Ashapur, and Minority Welfare Officer Shivanand Pattanashetti were present at the meeting.