Killer games: Police's digital de-addiction centres to the rescue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Police has opened digital de-addiction centres to save students and youth from the death trap of online games. In the first phase, the de-addiction centres have been set up in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur. Later, de-addiction centres will be opened in other districts as well. The aim is to bring the game addicts back to life through counselling, therapy and expert advice.

Twenty people, including students, have committed suicide after losing money through gambling online. 'Kerala Kaumudi' had published several reports about this.

Although the government banned online rummy in February 2021, the High Court overturned later it.

Digital De-Addiction Centre

• Psychologist and an employee.
• Psychologists to receive a monthly salary of Rs 36,000, assistants to receive Rs 20000
• Counselling for children
• Classes on safe internet use
• Campaigns in schools about the evil sides of online games
• Help Desk to provide information on children addicted to games to the police
• Awareness through 141 child-friendly police stations
• The Director of Social Policing is in charge of de-addiction centres
• The monitoring committee consists of experts from the government and NGOs
• Police Headquarters SP is the state coordinator
• Every Monday, the IG of Social Police will evaluate the functioning of the centres online.