Belagavi village goes in for digital detox, gadgets, TVs and mobile phones switch off at 7 pm when siren sounds

BELAGAVI: At the stroke of 7 pm, a siren sounds in Halaga village, 10 km from Belagavi city, and all TVs, computers, laptops, mobile phones in the village switch to silent mode and turn off.

The siren on the panchayat office.

In Halaga, the siren on the gram panchayat building signals the start of a gadget-free evening for students. Children stop playing, rush home and start studying. Parents switch off TVs and mobile phones, assisting with their kids’ studies.

Children study while TVs and other gadgets are switched off.

The village elders initiated this unique step for students’ benefit, banning gadget use from 7 pm to 8 pm. “We’ve issued a diktat to not use gadgets during this hour for the sake of children’s education. It’s a first-in-the-state move, bringing positive change in children’s learning habits”, say villagers. “Students are completing homework neatly and focusing more on studies. The gadget-free time helps them concentrate better”, said a teacher.

The siren also prompts kids to head home. Mothers and siblings help with studies, while others visit neighbours, discussing family and village progress. The impact: a positive response from villagers, prioritizing children’s future. “It’s a unique initiative, and we’re seeing good results,” say residents.

Villagers say the initiative is helping families bond, with people discussing village development and progress during the gadget-free hour. The residents are appreciative of the effort to prioritize children’s education.