Digital Pause: Watch How ‘This’ Karnataka Village Switches Off Screens Daily, Sounds Siren To Fight Screen Addiction

In Belagavi’s Halaga village, TVs and mobile phones are switched off for two hours every evening as part of a community-led digital detox aimed at improving children’s learning and family bonding.

In an age dominated by mobile phones, televisions and constant digital stimulation, a small village in Karnataka has chosen a radically simple solution. Halaga village in Belagavi taluk has introduced a mandatory two-hour screen-free period every evening to curb screen addiction among children and encourage focused studies and family interaction.

The initiative, led by the Halaga gram panchayat, requires all households to switch off televisions and put away mobile phones between 7 pm and 9 pm daily. To ensure collective participation, a siren is sounded at exactly 7 pm, signalling the start of the digital break. Devices can be used again only after another siren sounds at 9 pm.

According to villagers, the initiative was not easy to implement initially. Many families struggled to adjust to life without screens, even for a short period. However, with consistent effort and community support, the practice has now become a routine part of daily life in the village.

The experiment was launched after the panchayat observed a sharp rise in screen addiction among children, which was affecting their studies, behaviour and family relationships. Elders felt that excessive screen use was limiting meaningful conversations at home and reducing the time children spent on books and homework.

Sadanand Basvant Bilgoji, gram panchayat member and former president, explained the thinking behind the decision. “In 2021, we were able to defeat the COVID virus, but we ended up introducing the virus of screen addiction. We forced them to study using mobile phones and consume all content electronically. That has become a problem we can not tackle easily,” he said.

He added that the idea was inspired by a similar mobile phone ban introduced in Dhulegaon village in Sangli district of Maharashtra. “Some of our members were inspired by a mobile ban implemented in Dhulegaon in Sangli in Maharashtra. We passed a resolution in the gram panchayat, bought a siren and began the experiment from December 17,” Bilgoji said.

Villagers say the benefits of the initiative are already visible. Children are spending more time studying, families are sitting together in the evenings, and conversations have replaced silent screen time. Parents have also reported a calmer and more peaceful atmosphere at home.

“This decision was necessary for our children’s future and to create a peaceful atmosphere at home,” villagers said, expressing satisfaction with the outcome of the experiment.

In Halaga village, Belagavi (Karnataka), a siren sounds at 7 PM, and every home switches off TVs, phones & screens for 2 hours daily! A beautiful digital detox to promote family time, studies & real conversations.

India shines when communities lead by example let's reclaim… pic.twitter.com/XuxhXyuesp

— ಸನಾತನ (𑀲𑀦𑀸𑀢𑀦) (@sanatan_kannada) December 21, 2025

The initiative has also attracted attention on social media, where many users have praised Halaga’s approach. One user commented, “Good post and great initiative. People grown up during the period of No TV and Radio, knows the value of human relationship.”

Another user wrote, “While the rest of us doomscroll till midnight, one village chose discipline over dopamine. No apps, no outrage, just people talking, kids studying, families existing without a screen buffer.”

The gram panchayat has made it clear that the goal is not to completely ban technology, but to encourage mindful use and balance. By setting aside just two hours a day, the village hopes to instil discipline, reduce dependency on screens, and strengthen family bonds.

In a time when digital distractions are often seen as unavoidable, Halaga village’s siren-led digital detox stands out as a powerful reminder that community-driven solutions can still make a meaningful difference.