Rajasthan: Committee to examine impact of online games on students

JAIPUR: Taking cognizance of the death of a Kota boy while allegedly making a Tik Tok video, state education minister Govind Singh Dotasra has formed a committee to examine the mental, physical and psychological impact of online games on students and possibilities to ban them in the state. The move came two days after 12-year-old Kaushal of Kota was found dead while allegedly filming an act for the Tik Tok app, at his residence in Kota.
"These incidents raise an alarm for all the stakeholders to take some bold steps to avert the addiction leading to deaths, in the first place," said Dotasra. The committee members will study the multi-fold objectives of the gaming addiction on school students. "Along with gaming addiction, rising cases of students suffering with depression cannot be ignored and the committee will also examine the same. It will also suggest and recommend solutions to the mentioned problems. If the committee finds that the games are making a negative impact, state will take appropriate action, including a ban," said Dotasra. Rajasthan has time and again taken steps to stop the addiction to these games, but failed to bring about any positive result. State had in 2018 issued an advisory for the Blue Whale game and Momo Challenge, for teachers and parents to check the activities of students at home and school. Later, the government claimed that addiction has gone down. The astonishing claim by the government then said that these games have become more popular in the semi-rural areas, as compared to the rural areas, due to cheap access to internet.