Indian Village Bans Unmarried Women from Using Mobile Phones

The Indian government's 'Digital India' campaign to promote the improvement of the country's digital infrastructure and the "digital empowerment of citizens" appears not to have got through to a village in Gujarat, where villagers have imposed a ban on unmarried women using cell phones, the Hindustan Times reported on Thursday.

"Why do girls need cell phone? Internet is a waste of time and money for a middle-class community like us. Girls should better utilize their time for study and other works," said Devshi Vankar, who is 'sarpanch,' or head of the government of the village of Suray in Gujarat.

The village, which is located in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home district of Mehsana, imposed the ban on February 12. 

An unmarried woman who uses or possesses a cell phone will be fined Rs 2,100 ($31). If a relative wants to talk to her an exception can be made, and in that case her parents can pass her a cell phone.

Informers who tell the village authorities about illicit mobile phone use will receive Rs 200 ($2.91) as a reward.

Vankar told the Hindustan Times that the entire village of 2,500 was in agreement and "welcomed the decision," which followed an anti-alcohol campaign aimed at male members of the village.

"Alcohol consumption by men and cell phone use by women create a lot of disturbance in society," Raikarnji Thakor, a community leader from north Gujarat, commented on the ban.

"Young girls get misguided. It can break families and ruin relationship. It (the ban) is the villagers' idea only."