The West Bengal government will end the ₹10,000 assistance provided to Class 11 and 12 students to buy mobile phones.
Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari announced this on Saturday. The one-time assistance was provided under the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government’s ‘Taruner Swapno’ scheme.
Adhikari said the Bharatiya Janata Party government would spend more on providing modern educational infrastructure for students’ studies. He said clearly, “But we will not give mobile phones.”
Indications of a ban on mobile phones in schools
The official had hinted at banning mobile phones in schools at a Teacher’s Day programme last week. The official made the remark citing Gujarat as an example.
The official had then said, “Mobile phones have a very negative impact on schoolchildren. This will be a difficult decision and I may lose votes because of it.”
The official had said, “Gujarat has banned mobile phones for students up to Class 12. Even after their parents go to sleep, students stay awake and continue looking at their mobile phones.”
Story is being updated…
