Indian village bans girls from using mobile phones

Suraj, a village in India’s Gujarat Mehsana district, has banned women from using or possessing mobile phones.

The ban was implemented after the elders of the village concluded that mobile phones distract girls from facing their studies.

Devshi Vankar, a village head, told Hindustan Times that girls in the village do not need mobile phone as it distracts them from facing their studies.

“Why do girls need cell phone? Internet is a waste of time and money for a middle-class community like us,” he said.

“Girls should better utilise their time for study and other works.”

Vankar said the population of 2,500 in the village welcomed the decision issued by the panchayat, or local self-government.

The only exception to the ban is made if a relative wants to talk to a woman, in which case she is permitted to use her parent’s phone.

Raikarnji Thakor, a community leader from north Gujarat, said: “Alcohol consumption by men and cell phone use by women creates a lot of disturbance in society.

“Young girls get misguided. It can break families and ruin relationship.”