India, Dec. 23 -- A panchayat in Rajasthan's Jalore district has banned the use of smartphones with cameras for women across 15 villages in a bid to curtail excessive use of mobile phones by children. The ban will come into effect from January 26 and applies to daughters-in-law and unmarried girls of the community.

Under the new rule, women will not be allowed to carry smartphones at public gatherings, social functions, weddings, or even while visiting neighbours' houses. Instead, they have been instructed to use basic keypad mobile phones for communication. The restriction also extends beyond public spaces, significantly limiting the use of smartphones outside the home.

The panchayat, however, has made a partial exception for school- a...