Honors National Handball Champions
Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
In a significant move aimed at enhancing the academic environment and student well-being, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today announced a complete ban on the use of mobile phones by students in all government and private schools across Himachal Pradesh, effective from 1st March 2026.
The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the 69th National School Games Under-19 Girls Handball Tournament held at Ghumarwin, in Bilaspur district. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister emphasized that the state government is committed to provide world-class education that would enable local students to compete on a global stage.
Under the new regulations, students will no longer be permitted to bring mobile devices in the school premises. The Chief Minister detailed strict enforcement measures, stating that any student found in possession of a phone would face a fine of Rs. 500 and the confiscation of the device. Additionally, parents will be required to attend mandatory counseling sessions at the school. To ensure long-term compliance, the Education Department has been tasked with drafting a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to address repeated violations.
"It has been observed that mobile phone usage during lunch breaks and school hours distracts students from their studies and interpersonal growth," the Chief Minister remarked. Drawing on his own background as a product of the government school system, he reaffirmed his dedication to prioritizing the quality of education.
Beyond academic reforms, Sukhu highlighted the state’s aggressive push to promote sports and sports tourism. He announced that the state government would provide employment opportunities to female athletes from Himachal Pradesh who have recently competed in the Asian Games. To celebrate the victory of the Himachal team in the National Handball Championship, he announced a cash prize of Rs. 20 lakh.
The Chief Minister also noted that the government has significantly increased the daily diet allowance for student-athletes to Rs. 400 for events held within the State and Rs. 500 for National events. Furthermore, players traveling more than 200 kilometers for competitions were now being provided with air travel facilities to ensure their comfort and peak performance.
During the event, the Chief Minister laid out several infrastructure goals, including the expedited completion of the indoor stadium in Ghumarwin and the local school building within the next year. He also officially announced the construction of a new girls' hostel at Morsingi.
The 69th National School Games concluded with the Himachal Pradesh team securing a gold medal after defeating Rajasthan in the final match, while Haryana claimed third place. The tournament saw participation from 30 teams across the country.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, former MLAs Bumbar Thakur and Tilak Raj Sharma, District Congress President Anjana Dhiman, Congress leader Vivek Kumar, APMC Bilaspur Chairman Satpal Vardhan, Director of Higher Education Amarjeet Sharma, Director of School Education Ashish Kohli, Deputy Commissioner Bilaspur Rahul Kumar, Superintendent of Police Sandeep Dhawal and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.