Bengaluru, April 1 (NationPress) The Karnataka government has unveiled a draft policy dedicated to fostering responsible digital usage among students, in response to escalating worries about excessive screen time and its effects on mental health.

The 'Responsible Digital Use Among Students' initiative has been developed by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, in partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, along with various stakeholder departments. This policy aims to address challenges stemming from unsafe and excessive digital technology usage among children in schools, as stated by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.

The draft reveals that nearly one in four adolescents exhibit signs of problematic internet use. The policy underscores rising mental health issues such as anxiety, disturbances in sleep, diminished academic performance, and social isolation connected to prolonged screen exposure. Furthermore, it points out the increased risks of cyberbullying, online grooming, and digital exploitation.

The primary objective of the policy is to enhance digital well-being, emotional resilience, and responsible tech use through a structured, school-based framework. It advocates for a preventive strategy focusing on the early detection and management of digital addiction and related challenges.

Digital literacy, mental health awareness, and cyber safety will be woven into the school environment as part of the policy. A collaborative model involving schools, educators, parents, students, and government entities has been proposed for effective execution.

Key directives from the state government include the establishment of guidelines for schools, implementation of teacher training programs on healthy tech usage, and improved communication with parents concerning their children's digital behaviors.

Significant policy interventions will incorporate digital wellness into life skills and ICT education, addressing social media literacy, cyber safety, ethical tech usage, and mental health repercussions. Schools will also be required to create their own digital usage policies, recommending a screen time limit of one hour per day for recreational activities, alongside strategies to tackle cyber misconduct and provide counseling support.

The draft policy promotes early identification of behavioral and academic warning signs, allowing trained teachers to refer students to counselors and mental health services when necessary. Schools will establish Digital Wellness Committees to supervise implementation, awareness initiatives, and incident management.

To encourage well-rounded development, the policy supports offline activities such as physical exercises, hobbies, and designated “tech-free” times. Monitoring systems will be set up to track digital distress and provide access to support services, including Tele-MANAS.

A structured Training of Trainers model will be rolled out to prepare teachers to identify and manage technology addiction, focusing on understanding behavioral patterns such as craving, loss of control, compulsion, coping mechanisms, and consequences.

Additionally, the policy emphasizes the crucial role of parents as key stakeholders, encouraging them to implement screen-time rules, establish device-free zones at home, and promote offline engagement. Schools will assist parents through regular awareness and guidance sessions.

The policy clearly delineates roles and responsibilities, urging students to engage in responsible digital behavior, teachers to monitor student well-being, parents to regulate tech use at home, schools to implement support systems, and the government to oversee and fund initiatives.

The government anticipates that this policy will enhance digital literacy, mitigate technology addiction, facilitate early identification of mental health issues, strengthen collaboration between schools and parents, and foster safer digital environments for students.

As asserted by the minister, the draft policy represents a proactive and scalable approach to managing digital risks among students by integrating education, mental health, and cyber safety within a cohesive framework.