Friday, February 11 2005 17:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Government has decided to ban mobile phones in Government and aided schools in a bid to prevent its misuse.

Orders are being issued to ban mobile phones in the school following complaints of its misuse and distractions it created during teaching, State School Education Minister, Dhal Singh Bisen told at Jabalpur today (Feb 11, 2005).

The ban will be applicable to both the students and the teachers, he said adding, strict action would be taken against schools failing to follow the norms and those found using cell phones in classrooms.

"The ban will be enforced in all Government schools and other schools coming under Government's jurisdiction", Bisen said adding, several private schools have already implemented it.

"We will also try to ensure that invigilators for coming examinations will also not be allowed to carry mobile phones during tests", the minister said.

The ban was hailed by parents and students alike, as many of them claimed to have been victims of its abuse.

"Girls had become targets of phone-trotting 'romeos' attempting to click unsuspecting victims with their camera-enabled gadgets", Surendra Sinha, member of a Parent-Teachers' Association at a reputed school in Bhopal, said.

The ban will also enable students to concentrate and stop irritating during teaching sessions, a 10th standard student said.