A controversial directive issued by a village panchayat in Rajasthan’s Jalore district has triggered widespread debate after it imposed restrictions on the use of mobile phones by women across several villages.

The diktat, passed during a community meeting, bars daughters-in-law and young women from using camera-enabled phones and will take effect from January 26 next year, news agency PTI reported.

Under the decision, women from 15 villages will not be allowed to carry camera phones to public gatherings or even to a neighbour’s house. Instead, they will be permitted to use only keypad phones for communication.

The resolution was adopted at a meeting of the Chaudhary community held on Sunday in Gazipur village.

Sujnaram Chaudhary, president of the 14 pattis (subdivisions), told PTI that the announcement was made by Panch Himmtaram.

According to Himmtaram, after discussions among the panch and community members, it was decided that daughters-in-law and young women would exclusively use keypad phones for calling, as stated in the report.

Chaudhary further said that school-going girls who require mobile phones for academic purposes may use them only at home. They have been barred from carrying phones to weddings, social gatherings or even to neighbouring houses.

Responding to criticism of the move, Chaudhary said the decision was motivated by concerns that children often use the mobile phones of women in their households, which could affect their eyesight. He also said that women sometimes hand over phones to children to keep them occupied so they can complete daily chores without interruption.

While the panchayat’s decision has drawn sharp reactions, restrictions on mobile phone usage, particularly among children, are being introduced elsewhere in the world as well.