Mumbai, February 26: The Maharashtra government has taken a significant step to address the rising issue of digital addiction among children. On Wednesday, the government announced the formation of a task force comprising experts to conduct a comprehensive study on digital addiction and its adverse effects on children.
The task force will include education specialists, psychologists, child counselors, technology experts, management consultants, doctors, legal experts, and senior government officials.
State Information Technology Minister Ashish Shelar informed the Legislative Council that a detailed report on this issue will be presented before the next session of the Assembly. This announcement came in response to concerns raised by members Niranjan Davkhare and Sanjay Kenekar regarding the increasing dangers of social media addiction among youth and minors.
Several MLCs, including Praveen Darekar, Chitra Wagh, Bhai Jagatap, and Uma Khapre, participated in the discussion. They questioned the government about the possibility of setting age limits for gaming apps and social media, as well as imposing restrictions on targeted digital advertisements aimed at minors.
Minister Shelar revealed that written instructions for forming the task force were issued to Principal Secretary of the IT Department, Virendra Singh, on February 2. There are approximately 40 million children under the age of 18 in the state, with around 30 million being under 15 years old. Their mental and physical health is a matter of public concern.
The government also announced the establishment of a committee comprising members from both houses of the legislature to deliberate on this issue. The task force will study various aspects, including children’s safety and digital security, mental health, educational impact, balanced use of digital platforms, cultural differences, urban-rural disparities, economic implications, and productivity, in line with national and international frameworks.
Minister Shelar cited studies indicating that India ranks first in mobile game downloads globally. The global gaming market is valued at over $200 billion, and Maharashtra’s domestic industry is projected to reach $8.6 billion by 2027.
According to the study, both urban and rural areas are witnessing a rapid increase in ‘gaming disorder.’ Data from five centers in the state revealed that 3 out of every 10 clinical cases were linked to gaming addiction. A survey conducted in schools using the ‘Internet Dependency Scale’ found that 40% of children exhibited moderate to severe levels of gaming addiction.
The minister clarified that while the central government holds the authority to legislate, the recommendations from Maharashtra’s task force will be formally submitted to the center. Additionally, the government plans to promote games that enhance intellectual development through competitions.
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