Statewide Ban on Mobile Phones in Schools Announced; Chief Minister Honors National Handball Champions.
Ghumarwin (Bilaspur):
In a major step aimed at strengthening academic discipline and promoting student well-being, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday announced a complete ban on the use of mobile phones by students in all government and private schools across Himachal Pradesh. The decision will come into effect from 1 March 2026.
The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the 69th National School Games Under-19 Girls Handball Tournament held at Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district. Addressing students, teachers, parents, and sports officials, the Chief Minister said the state government is committed to providing world-class education that equips students to compete at the global level.
Under the new directive, students will not be permitted to bring mobile phones onto school premises. Elaborating on enforcement measures, the Chief Minister stated that any student found carrying a mobile phone will be fined Rs. 500, and the device will be confiscated. In addition, parents will be required to attend mandatory counseling sessions at the school. To handle repeated violations effectively, the Education Department has been directed to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
“It has been observed that the use of mobile phones during lunch breaks and school hours distracts students from their studies and affects their social and interpersonal development,” the Chief Minister said. Recalling his own journey as a product of the government school system, he reiterated that improving the quality of education remains the state government’s top priority.
Highlighting the government’s focus on sports development and sports tourism, CM Sukhu announced employment opportunities for female athletes from Himachal Pradesh who have represented the country in the Asian Games. Congratulating the Himachal Pradesh girls’ handball team for their outstanding performance, he announced a cash reward of Rs. 20 lakh for winning the National Handball Championship.
The Chief Minister further informed that the daily diet allowance for student-athletes has been enhanced to Rs. 400 for state-level events and Rs. 500 for national-level competitions. To ensure better travel comfort and performance, athletes traveling more than 200 kilometers for competitions will now be provided air travel facilities.
On the infrastructure front, the Chief Minister announced that the indoor stadium at Ghumarwin and the local school building would be completed within the next year. He also laid the foundation for the construction of a new girls’ hostel at Morsingi, aimed at improving residential facilities for female students.
The 69th National School Games concluded on a high note, with Himachal Pradesh clinching the gold medal after defeating Rajasthan in the final match, while Haryana secured third place. The tournament witnessed participation from 30 teams from across the country.
The event was attended by Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, former MLAs Bumber Thakur and Tilak Raj Sharma, District Congress President Anjana Dhiman, Congress leader Vivek Kumar, APMC Bilaspur Chairman Satpal Vardhan, Director of Higher Education Amarjeet Sharma, Director of School Education Ashish Kohli, Deputy Commissioner Bilaspur Rahul Kumar, Superintendent of Police Sandeep Dhawal, and other distinguished guests.
