But is anybody listening?

Devanshi Joshi.Ahmedabad/DNA
Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The government has drafted guidelines asking manufacturers and service providers to avoid advertisements showing children and pregnant women using cell phones. The step is intended to prevent people falling prey to health hazards of cell phone radiations but the response to the official initiative remains uncertain as several school goers and their parents find a mobile phone an essential gadget. "I have been using mobile phone since I was in class VII. I use it to be in touch with my friends," says Sarthak Patel, a class IX student. He says his parents gave the mobile phone to him so that they can contact him whenever he is out. "I have not considered government guidelines seriously as I can't imagine my life without a mobile phone." Khushbu Upadhyaya, a 13-year-old student residing at Paldi, recently got a new mobile phone as a birthday gift from her parents. "Most of my friends use mobile phones. It is not just for communication but it also functions as a radio, a walkman, and a reminder.""Khushbu has to move around- school, coaching class, dance class, and sometimes friends place for study. In case there is any problem, because of mobile phone she can get immediate help," says Hema Upadhyaya, Khushbu's mother. "I have read about health hazards caused by the use of mobile phone but it will not stop us from giving our daughter a mobile phone. She needs it to be connected," says Hema.Use of mobile phones in the premises of schools has been banned but students don't take the diktat seriously. Many students carry mobiles with them in schools. "Use of cell phones in our school is strictly banned as it creates social imbalance among students. But tomorrow if I check, I will find 5% to 6% of the students in each class carrying a mobile phone," says Fr. Fernand Durai, principal of St.Xavier's Loyola school.He says, "The government has taken a good step but parents need to understand the adverse affects of the instrument and stop giving it to children." ENT specialist Dr Mihir Mehta says, "Over a long period, mobile radiation can affect anybody but it affects children more. Later, it can result in temporary loss of memory and headache. Children should avoid using cell phone to protect themselves from radiation effects. "Children like to keep mobile phones with them because of their multiple uses. Mobile phone is no more just a communication tool for them. With advancement in technology, a mobile phone has become music library, play station, camera and Internet surf land. Children are finding mobile phone games a hot thing to spend time with. Blue tooth and GPRS have made their exchange of games, music, themes, and wallpaper easy. Kaushal Ajmera, a class 8 student, spends 2 to 3 hours a day on playing mobile phone games. He says, "I have downloaded more than 50 games in my cell phone memory card. I keep exchanging games with my friends. I don't use my mobile phone much for communication. I keep it for games and other downloads like wallpapers and songs."Children don't seem to be taking government guidelines about use of mobile phone very seriously because of the multiple uses of the gadget.