JAIPUR: State education department has directed both government and private schools to spread awareness about the dangers of the online game ‘Momo Challenge’ to its students. The advisory issued on October 8 directed schools to organize sessions with students talking about the game which entice the players to engage in self harming dares. The move came after the HRD minister has asked the states to review the spread of ‘Momo Challenge,’ and act accordinglyNathmal Didel, director of secondary education, which issued the advisory says, “Both the centre and state government is concerned about such games becoming epidemic in the country. Reports of children committing suicide while playing these games or completing the task governed by the game in India has given us enough reason to intervene.” The advisory will make it mandatory for the schools to initiate steps towards keeping students at bay from such games.Didel says that this game involves challenges that encourage teenagers/children to engage in series of violent acts as challenges of the game. “It inspires teenagers to add unknown contacts on whatsapp by the momo with an image of Japanese Doll called Momo. If the player doesn’t follow the instructions they are threatened with violent images, audios and videos.The administration believes that school is the place which can notice the behavioural changes in the students even before the parents. Students engaged in any such game or activity they leaves several signs which can be noticed by the parents, classmates etc. Since the penetration of internet has gone deeper, its adverse effects are coming to the fore.Officials have been taking feedback from the students’ counsellors on the impact of modern technology on students. Other than the enhancing the creativity, the counsellors say that a section students have been losing focus on the studies. Several schools may have banned mobile phones but they agree that parents insist them to allow their wards to bring mobile phones to the school. “Parents have to equally take the responsibility by engaging their wards in creative activities and to give them appropriate time so that they should not feel the need of mobile phones,” said Lata Rawat, principal of Cambridge Court High School.

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