A village panchayat in Rajasthan’s Jalore district has decided to prohibit married women and daughters-in-law in 15 villages from using camera-enabled mobile phones starting January 26. Under the decision, women will be allowed to use only basic keypad phones for voice calls.
The resolution was ratified during a gathering of the Sundhamata Patti panchayat of the Chaudhary clan, which took place in Ghazipur village on December 21. The meeting was led by community leader Sujanaram Chaudhary. Panch Himmataram presented the proposal, which was accepted following discussions among panchayat officials and community elders.
According to the decision, daughters-in-law and young women will be barred from carrying smartphones to weddings, public events, or while visiting neighbors. They are permitted to possess and use only keypad phones for calls.
In an interview, Chaudhary explained that the decision was made by Panch Himmataram after consultations with the community. “After deliberations among panch members and community participants, it was concluded that daughters-in-law and young women should exclusively use keypad phones for communication,” he stated.
The resolution contains a limited provision for education. Per the panchayat’s guidelines, school-aged girls who need smartphones for their studies may use them at home. However, they are prohibited from bringing mobile phones to social occasions, weddings, or to the homes of neighbors.
Clarifying the rationale behind the decision, Chaudhary noted that children frequently use the mobile devices of women in their homes, which can harm their eyesight due to prolonged screen exposure. “Some women hand their phones to children to distract them, enabling them to attend to daily responsibilities,” he remarked.
The ban will be enforced in Ghazipur, Pawali, Kalda, Manojiyawas, Rajikawas, Datlawas, Rajpura, Kodi, Sidrodi, Aldi, Ropsi, Khanadewal, Savidhar, Hathmi Ki Dhani, and Khanpur.