‘Mobile bidi pustaka hidi’ campaign to be launched in Karnataka to inculcate reading habit among schoolchildren

With an aim to reduce the screen time of children and inculcate reading habit, the State government has taken steps to launch a ‘Mobile bidi pustaka hidi’ (Put down your mobile and pick up a book) campaign.

The government circular has taken serious note of the fact that students are lagging behind in reading due to excessive and uncontrolled use of digital devices, including mobile phones. The government is planning to launch the campaign in collaboration with the Women and Child Welfare Department, Library Department, Health and Police Departments.

The main objective of the School Education Department is to systematically develop a love for reading among students and to shape them into responsible citizens with active, rational and high-level thinking skills.

Officials said due to excessive and uncontrolled use of mobile phones and other digital devices among students, there has been a significant decline in reading habit, in addition to a setback in concentration and an adverse effect on mental health. The government said this was hindering academic achievement.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2025, had announced that he would launch the campaign.

Implementation

The School Education Department has said that steps should be taken to create awareness among students and parents through experts about the effects of using mobile phones, during the child enrollment awareness campaign for 2026-27, for which the School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) and parents’ meetings will be held regularly at the school level.

“Parents should check the purpose for which children are using mobile phones, limit screen time, ensure that mobile phones are not used while eating, before going to bed and while doing other daily activities, and encourage reading or other offline activities such as games, interacting with family members, and engaging in hobbies that suit the interests of children,” the circular stated.

It also said that parents should set an example for children by avoiding their mobile phone use and prioritising reading and other activities.

School-level awareness programmes

The circular stated that awareness should be created about the safe and moderate use of mobile phones and social media through activities like skit, dancing, and speech.

In collaboration with the Health Department, students should be informed about the mental health problems caused by excessive use of mobile phone and its effects on academic performance, it said, adding that teachers should take steps to promote the use of libraries and introduce books to children and develop the habit of reading.

It has been stated that students should be made aware of breathing and daily activities through the use of mindfulness techniques, and techniques to reduce mental stress, increase concentration and interest in reading, and control mobile use should be taught.

Mothers and the community should be made aware of the effects of excessive mobile phone use on children through anganwadi workers. Parents should be made aware of the use of Gram Panchayat libraries.

The cybercrime police officers should be invited to schools to organise seminars on cybercrimes, cyberbullying, online frauds, and to educate them about laws related to mobile phone usage and child safety, it stated.