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| Published on 13-09-2007 In National |
| Viewed 1892 times | Written by Priyanka Hosangadi |
| Karnataka bans mobile phones for children |
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The Karnataka government has proposed a ban on the use of cell phones in schools. This follows a clarification last week by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology that reports on the same were “factually incorrect” and there were no such considerations.
It is, however, a fact that the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (the technical wing of the Department of Telecom) has issued draft guidelines for complying with limits for human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). According to the draft guidelines, “The tissues of children are tender and therefore they are likely to be more affected by use of mobile phones. Children below 16 years age should be discouraged from using mobile phones.” The entire debate brewed from this statement.
There are two aspects to this issue that are not that well known. The draft deals with exposure at two levels in two parts. Part One handles guidelines referring to ‘base station antennae’ or ‘macro antennae’ that are mounted “out door” for coverage of an area. These are usually mounted on cellular mobile towers. Part Two is about ‘micro antennae’ or mobile handsets that radiate very low power and are used for indoor coverage. However the report contradicts itself when it claims that micro antennae “are excluded in general from the scope of this document.” This is because fairly detailed regulations have been provided for in the second part.
The guidelines clearly state that:
1. Base station antennae should preferably not be installed near hospitals or schools because children " patients are more susceptible to EMF.
2. The base station antennae should be at least 3 m away from the nearby building and antennae should not directly face the building. Further, the lower end of the
antenna should be at least 3 meter above the ground or roof.
3. Access to base station antenna sites should be prohibited for general public by
suitable means such as wire fencing , locking the door to the roof etc. Access to
tower site, even for the maintenance personnel should be for the least minimum period.
4. Identifiable and clearly visible sign boards/ warning signs are to be provided at base station antenna sites which. A warning sign should be placed at the
entrance of such a zone. The sign should discourage too long a stay in
the zone, even for the maintenance personnel.
The first important point is to see whether these guidelines are already being followed by companies who have set up such towers. This is because the norms are at the level of international stipulations. Telecom companies such as Reliance have apparently set up macro antennae on terraces of residential buildings or in similar colonies. Though the company claims that they have followed “international safety norms”, it is clear that in many cases, those are violated or not being followed at all.
The question then raised is that if these guidelines are implemented eventually, what happens to the towers that have already been set up. Should they be dismantled or set up else where? Will the telecom companies be willing to shift them at all, citing that no norms are being flouted?
The choice of using a mobile phone is also one that is extremely personal and cannot really be regulated. It is not very difficult to procure a mobile connection through a fake identity, as has often been proved in the past. A person below 16 years of age could also use his/her parent’s cell phone, which is a common occurrence. It thus seems foolhardy to even contemplate such a ban. The government should instead focus on preventing electro magnetic exposure at the source itself, i.e the base antennae.
The International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP 1998) has set down certain guidelines that have been adopted by countries such as the United States of America, European Union, Canada, Australia, Japan, China etc. It is also likely to be revised in 2008. The World Health Organisation has also endorsed these precautionary approaches. It is high time that the Indian government firmly implements guidelines along the lines of international methods and it has enough predecessors to help it do so. Thus, it should not be that difficult a task. |
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