Bohras unite against cell phone addiction

The Dawoodi Bohra community has united for a cause that's hitting parents everywhere hard—they are fighting to save their children from cell phone addiction.

- Linah Baliga

MUMBAI: Aimed at children aged below 15, the community has launched a mobile screen-free campaign that has schools, counselors, and doctors rooting for the mental health of their children and young adults. It's part of a global program launched in the community on Monday.

Arva Jaal is relieved to finally have the support she needs to wean her daughters away from the small screen. She is a mother of two girls, aged 8 and 13, who attend the community's school at MSB Institute of Education in Mazgaon. "I noticed their focus was lacking and their attention span shrinking by the day. My children were becoming increasingly impatient and inattentive, and their academic performance was also slipping. Now, as part of this campaign, we use various strategies to keep our kids away from screens. We engage them in games to foster their development and limit their screen time," said Jaal.