Haryana DGP gets accidental phone call from child, he issues statewide advisory to tackle screen addiction

Backing the message with expert-led video content and a simple Hindi explainer, Singh stressed that constant exposure to screens can harm developing brains, derail attention spans, disrupt sleep cycles, and stunt social skills—risks that often go unnoticed until grades, mood, or behaviour begin to slide.

“This is not just a parenting concern – it is a public-safety concern,” Singh said in his post. “Children who are chronically sleep-deprived, isolated, or agitated by screen overuse are vulnerable to online predators, to cyberbullying, to risky behaviour. Families and schools must act early,” he said.

The DGP urged parents to set predictable routines: no phones at dinner, no screens an hour before sleep, and device-free zones for homework and family time. He encouraged guardians to replace passive scrolling with active play—morning walks, local sports, reading, music, and time in parks. For younger children, he recommended handset locks, app timers, and clear family rules about content and usage.

Cyber cell to amplify advisory

Officials said the police cyber cell will amplify the advisory with weekly social posts, short videos in Hindi, and school-focused toolkits on:

– Screen-time basics by age and practical limits
– Sleep hygiene and the role of daylight and outdoor activity
– Signs of digital addiction: irritability, secrecy, falling grades, late-night use
– Safe tech practices: privacy settings, reporting cyberbullying, blocking strangers
– Parent checklists and helpline numbers for guidance

District police have been asked to partner with school principals, panchayats, and RWAs for “parents-only” awareness meets on weekends, with a 20-minute module led by counsellors or trained volunteers. Police will also push a “digital curfew” message—no devices in bedrooms after lights-out—through station-level WhatsApp groups and local radio.

The advisory dovetails with Singh’s early focus on mental wellbeing within the force. “If the police are asking families to take mental health seriously, the department must model it inside,” an official said, noting the DGP’s pilot project for confidential counselling access and empathetic leadership training for supervisors.

Child-safety experts welcomed the move as “exactly the kind of low-cost, high-impact public education” needed to curb the rise of compulsive screen use.

“A message from the state’s top cop cuts through noise,” said a school counsellor involved in past police outreach. “Framing screen addiction as a safety and wellbeing issue—not just a lifestyle choice—helps parents act,” DGP Singh said.

Next steps, as per state police include a short bilingual leaflet on ‘Healthy Screens, Healthy Sleep’ to be shared at schools and police open-house hours; A three-minute Hindi explainer video co-created with child psychologists; a one-stop page with links to parental controls, reporting cyber offences, and 112/1930 helplines; and a simple pledge campaign: ‘No Phones at Dinner, No Screens Before Sleep’.

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