<p>A siren is blown from Bhairavnath Temple in Mohityache Vadgaon village in Maharashtra at 7 pm every day. From 7 pm to 8.30 pm, it's time for a "digital detox" for the villagers. </p>.<p>No one watches television, uses smartphones or any other digital device during that time. </p>.<p>Mohityache Vadgaon is located in Kadegaon tehsil of Sangli district in Maharashtra.</p>.<p>“Its a unique initiative. We have campaigned hard for it and finally we succeeded when people cooperated,” Mohityache Vadgaon’s Sarpanch Vijay Mohite told DH over phone.</p>.<p>The initiative was launched on August 15, 2022 coinciding with 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.</p>.<p>“We we look back, 2020 and 2021 have been difficult years because of the Covid-19 pandemic," said Mohate. "The pandemic triggered the lockdown and online education started in a big way. While TV and mobile were the only source of entertainment, it was smartphones which were being used for education. That was a necessity,” he said.</p>.<p>However, it had its repercussions, he said.</p>.<p>“Young kids got addicted to mobile phones. While classes were for a few hours, the rest of the day, the kids were glued to their mobile phones,” he said, adding that there were no physical activities on the part of students.</p>.<p>This was a matter of concern and hence a discussion was initiated to address the issue. “I spoke to a few people about digital detox but people were not convinced. But I kept trying and people came with me. We also spoke to the ladies and they too were convinced that we need to do something,” he said.</p>.<p>Mohite pointed out that he also went to different schools and spoke to kids.</p>.<p>The village has 3,520 people and around 750 houses. “We have 530 students from Class I to Class X. And the college-goers are around 300,” he said, pointing out that after detailed deliberations they finally decided to implement the 'detox' from the 75th year of Independence.</p>.<p>“To start with, we installed a siren at the Bhairavnath Temple of the village. The siren goes off at 7 pm daily,” he said, adding that for implementation, there are groups of volunteers who undertake surprise checks in the locality.</p>.<p>“In fact, students too are happy now. The parents are happy. The family can sit together and talk to each other. Those who want to study, can study,” he said.<br /> </p>
<p>A siren is blown from Bhairavnath Temple in Mohityache Vadgaon village in Maharashtra at 7 pm every day. From 7 pm to 8.30 pm, it's time for a "digital detox" for the villagers. </p>.<p>No one watches television, uses smartphones or any other digital device during that time. </p>.<p>Mohityache Vadgaon is located in Kadegaon tehsil of Sangli district in Maharashtra.</p>.<p>“Its a unique initiative. We have campaigned hard for it and finally we succeeded when people cooperated,” Mohityache Vadgaon’s Sarpanch Vijay Mohite told DH over phone.</p>.<p>The initiative was launched on August 15, 2022 coinciding with 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.</p>.<p>“We we look back, 2020 and 2021 have been difficult years because of the Covid-19 pandemic," said Mohate. "The pandemic triggered the lockdown and online education started in a big way. While TV and mobile were the only source of entertainment, it was smartphones which were being used for education. That was a necessity,” he said.</p>.<p>However, it had its repercussions, he said.</p>.<p>“Young kids got addicted to mobile phones. While classes were for a few hours, the rest of the day, the kids were glued to their mobile phones,” he said, adding that there were no physical activities on the part of students.</p>.<p>This was a matter of concern and hence a discussion was initiated to address the issue. “I spoke to a few people about digital detox but people were not convinced. But I kept trying and people came with me. We also spoke to the ladies and they too were convinced that we need to do something,” he said.</p>.<p>Mohite pointed out that he also went to different schools and spoke to kids.</p>.<p>The village has 3,520 people and around 750 houses. “We have 530 students from Class I to Class X. And the college-goers are around 300,” he said, pointing out that after detailed deliberations they finally decided to implement the 'detox' from the 75th year of Independence.</p>.<p>“To start with, we installed a siren at the Bhairavnath Temple of the village. The siren goes off at 7 pm daily,” he said, adding that for implementation, there are groups of volunteers who undertake surprise checks in the locality.</p>.<p>“In fact, students too are happy now. The parents are happy. The family can sit together and talk to each other. Those who want to study, can study,” he said.<br /> </p>