New Delhi, Feb 6 (NationPress) BJP National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda's recent effort to bring forth India's inaugural legislation aimed at limiting social media access for children under 13 has faced yet another setback as the Lok Sabha was adjourned due to protests from the Opposition.

Panda's private members' Bill titled “The Safeguarding Healthy Environments for Little Digital Natives (SHIELD) Bill 2025” has been on the Lok Sabha agenda for the past three months but has not been introduced.

The proposed Bill, which was set for presentation on Friday, emphasizes mental health and online safety in light of global efforts to protect children in the digital space.

This legislation seeks to impose restrictions and regulations on internet and social media access for kids below the age of 13.

During the Winter Session, Panda also faced hurdles in introducing this Bill due to adjournments caused by disturbances in Parliament.

Similar laws have been enacted in various countries, including Australia, and are under consideration in many others. In India, numerous activists and parent organizations are advocating for limitations on social media access for minors, prompted by the rising number of recorded instances of its harmful effects on young minds.

One distressing case involved three young girls in Ghaziabad who took their own lives, with suggestions that unregulated gaming and social media platforms played a role.

Panda has criticized the Opposition for its disruptive actions in Parliament, which have impeded the progress of private members' bills. He labeled this behavior as bizarre, noting that the government is not involved in these bills, and many Opposition members also seek to introduce their own private members' bills.

Data indicates that disruptions in Parliament result in a cost of Rs 2.5 lakh per minute, Rs 1.5 crore per hour, Rs 9 crore per day, leading to a potential loss of Rs 57 crore of taxpayer money.

Since the Budget Session commenced on January 28, the Lok Sabha has had approximately 30-35 scheduled working hours, of which between 20-25 hours have been lost to interruptions, equating to a notional loss of Rs 30-35 crore in the Lower House.

In the Upper House, 12-15 hours have also been lost, amounting to a loss of Rs 18-22 crore. In total, the disruptions across both Houses have resulted in an estimated loss of Rs 57 crore.

On Friday, the Opposition escalated protests in the Lok Sabha following Speaker Om Birla's ruling against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reading from a magazine that featured an excerpt from a yet-to-be-released book by General Naravane (retd), citing parliamentary regulations.

The protests, particularly in the Lok Sabha, led to multiple adjournments of the Lower House on Friday.