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| Karnataka bans cellphones ......... |
| The Karnataka government has decided to ban the use of mobile phones by children under the age of 16 in schools and junior colleges
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| INDIA
, 12-September-2007
10:21:31 AM |
| The Karnataka government has decided to ban the use of mobile phones by children under the age of 16 in schools and junior colleges.
The state government has also decided to ban the sale of mobile handsets to children in this age group. It says the decision has been taken in the interests of the children's health.
Officials say schools will be instructed to confiscate mobile phones from students.
Debate rages
The cell phone industry meanwhile has said that there is no evidence to prove the health risk involved.
The government panel is debating the possible health hazards after a study on the risks from mobile phones. In its preliminary findings, the Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) says mobile phone use puts some groups at risk. Children under 16 should be stopped from using mobiles as it can cause tissue damage.
The TEC's brief was to examine international guidelines on radiation levels that human beings can be exposed to. These have been adopted by US, UK and Japan among other countries.
But the mobile phone industry calls the report alarmist and cites its own studies.
''We have also got studies done and all of them say that there are no health hazards. Powerful organizations like the WHO, health councils etc say there is no evidence whatsoever,'' said T V Ramchandran, Director General, COAI.
But the generation at the centre of this debate says it wants the freedom to make an informed decision.
''It's the consumers choice, and if we are willing to take the risk then we should be allowed to. I would buy a cell phone anyway,'' said a student.
The issues that the TEC has looked at till now need to be ratified before they can be framed as recommendations to the Telecom Ministry.
This may take anywhere between 4 to 5 months. But once that happens, the safety regulations for using mobile phones will certainly be more stringent than before.
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