‘Digital addiction needs actionable interventions to save youngsters’

Srinagar, Mar 9: Continuing its program of ‘Common Interest Conversations’, the Managing Committee of Amar Singh Club, Srinagar on the International Women’s Day discussed the role of women in the societal intervention titled ‘The Cashmere Recuperation’ focused on digital addiction.

The interaction was presided over by Tanveer Jehan (IAS) former Commissioner/Secretary, and other participants included Qurat-ul-Ain, Hawa Bashir, Asiya Murtaza, Shagufta Qazi, Shahala Ali Sheikh . The Managing Committee Members was represented by Rauf A Punjabi and Parvez Fazili.

Nasir Hamid Khan, Secretary of Amar Singh Club, Srinagar welcomed the participants and informed them that in the past two months, they have had five sessions of Common Interest Conversations. “We have heard brilliant and concerned minds sharing their views. But this was the most important conversation so far because we have the privilege of interacting with what is the backbone of families and communities - Women. Divinity Personified, the primary care givers, who provide care, support and nurturing to humanity,” he said.

He started with a brief touch up about the reasons behind the formulation of the Club’s community intervention titled ‘The Cashmere Recuperation’.  “It was quite evident that digital devices had engaged and distracted the minds of all, but their irreversible and crippling impact on the minds of children during the formative years of their personalities was perhaps the most dangerous and alarming feature of the discussions. The first six years of life were an extremely critical period where foundations of personality were laid by processing and understanding the world around them,” Khan said.

He stated that a “science based positive community intervention titled “The Cashmere Recuperation” had already been announced. Recuperation meant recovery from illness or exertion and sought the support of God’s best care givers to draw upon their gifts of resilience, empathy, patience, pride; emotional intelligence and courage to guide the society out of this mess. He also announced a logo/trophy design public challenge for the ‘Cashmere Recuperation’ event in which the chosen designer shall win Rs 25,000,” he said.

The participants appreciated the efforts of the Managing Committee of Amar Singh Club, Srinagar to address societal concerns and shared their views and inputs about digital addiction. “All participants expressed their concern at the rising problems attributable to the use of digital devices and were of the opinion that actionable interventions were required,” the organisers said in a statement.

“It was felt that with the trend of both parents working, children were usually left at the mercy of maids and servants who used digital devices to pacify and baby sit. The over-sanitisation of childhood had left them unable to face real life challenges and forced them into a state of withdrawal. It was of critical importance that they are shifted out of their comfort zones and moved to a collective supervisory system during the daytime,” it said.

“After detailed in depth discussions and analysis of the multiple facets of the issue, it was felt that a common sanctuary for nurturing children of all age groups like infancy, toddlers, preschool, adolescence and school age was required to be set up at micro levels.  These greenhouses needed to be run by women only with proper CCTV cover and would allow children to interact and socialize, play and learn about the art, culture, traditions, history and language of Kashmir during their formative years,” it added.

“These nests would not only nurture children about real-life challenges but also shield them from getting addicted to digital devices. Given the scale of logistics, the support of various related departments of the Government including Education, Health, Sports, Handicrafts, Forests and Floriculture was required.”

‘The Government already had a vast infrastructure in the shape of Government schools and other unutilised assets throughout Kashmir which could be utilized for the benefit of our children. The participants volunteered to prepare a detailed and actionable blueprint of ‘The Greenhouse Intervention’ on the lines of a public-private partnership which would be submitted for the kind consideration of the Government in the coming day,” the statement added.