We are publishing this news, since it has also relevance to students of other colleges. Although imposing restriction on students for internet use is debatable, but the discussion is interesting and informative.-Chronicle team
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Debate: will Web restriction help?
 | CNN-IBN Posted Thursday , March 15, 2007 at 03:00 Updated Thursday , March 15, 2007 at 09:55 NET ADDICTION: IIT Powai authorities say they would like students to venture out of the virtual world. |
Scores of students of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Powai were in for a rude shock when the institute disallowed students from accessing Internet in their hostel rooms. The rule of restriction on Net access - that has been passed in IIT hostels - says the addiction to surfing, gaming and blogging was affecting students’ performance, making them reclusive and even suicidal in some cases. While the Internet access in the campus has been restricted, many students have been left wondering if it would serve any purpose. Some of them even say that it is simply a misguided move. Will these restrictions have the desired effect? On CNN-IBN show India 360 Director, IIT Bombay Ashok Misra, psychiatrist Dr Anjali Chabria, and IIT Delhi student Kunal Sood joined the debate. IIT restricts Internet usage so that students interact. Will this work? The authorities at IIT Powai say it would like its students to venture out of the virtual world into the real one and interact more, which could help in countering loneliness and depression. The institute claims that students had stopped socialising and many were often late for the morning lectures because they spent late hours surfing the net—that too for non-academic purposes. The administration has decided to prohibit access to the Internet for students between 2300 hrs IST to 0800 hrs IST. The pressure to perform on IITians leaves them with very little time or avenue to interact with people outside the campus. Restricting Internet access—which could have been an outlet for these students may prove counterproductive. ______________________________________ http://www.ibnlive.com/news/debate-will-web-restriction-help/36065-3-single.html | |