‘Mobile Bidi Pustaka Hidi’ Campaign
News –
- The Karnataka State government is launching the ‘Mobile bidi pustaka hidi’ (Put down your mobile and pick up a book) campaign to reduce children’s screen time and systematically develop a habit of reading.
‘Mobile Bidi Pustaka Hidi’ (Drop the Mobile, Pick up a Book)
- It is a statewide campaign launched by the Government of Karnataka in February 2026
- Objective – to combat mobile phone addiction and revive reading habits among schoolchildren.
Key Details of the Campaign
- Primary Objective: To reduce excessive screen time for children under 16 and encourage them to cultivate a love for physical books and libraries.
- Target Audience: Approximately 50 lakh students across government, aided, and private schools in Karnataka.
- Implementation: Overseen by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) and the Department of State Education Research and Training (DSERT).
Core Strategies & Initiatives
- Digital Detox for Parents: The campaign urges parents to lead by example by putting away their own phones when children are at home and reading books instead.
- School Integration: Teachers are instructed to organize regular parent-teacher meetings to discuss the negative effects of gadget addiction and set healthy limits on mobile use.
- Holistic Development: Beyond reading, the campaign promotes physical activities, sports, and hobbies to distract children from digital devices.
- Inter-Departmental Support: The education department plans to collaborate with the Library, Health, Police, and Women and Child Welfare departments to raise awareness about cybercrimes and online safety.
- Note – The campaign was inspired by a grassroots movement led by a government school teacher, T.N. Chikkaveeraiah, from Ramanagara, who initially started the “Mobile Bidi Pustaka Hidi” effort to pull his students away from screens
Leave a Reply