Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu dropped a game-changer for Himachal Pradesh’s schools: a complete mobile phone ban effective March 1 across all facilities. The crackdown seeks to eliminate the menace of smartphones derailing academic progress.
Announced amid cheers at the 69th National School Games Under-19 Girls Handball event in Ghumarwin, the directive is unambiguous—spotted phones mean Rs 500 fines and confiscation. Sukhu pointed to lunch hours and school time as prime distraction zones, invoking personal anecdotes from his public school days to drive the point home.
Parental involvement ramps up with required counseling participation. The CM reaffirmed the state’s drive for superior education standards, enabling local talent to shine globally.
On the sports front, festivities included a Rs 20 lakh bonus for the handball champions, job assurances for Asian Games women athletes, bumped-up daily allowances to Rs 400/500 for state/national meets, and flight perks for journeys over 200 km. This multifaceted approach marries educational discipline with athletic empowerment.
With enforcement looming, Himachal’s schools are poised for transformation, fostering environments where books outrank buzzes and medals match marks.