In Rajasthan’s Jalore district, a caste panchayat of the Jat community has banned married women from carrying smartphones at social events starting January 26, 2026. The decision came at a panchayat meeting held in Ghazipur village on December 21. Women from 15 villages in the Bhinmal-Khanpur area must use only basic keypad phones for calls during weddings, public gatherings, and visits to neighbors. The Sundhamata Patti panchayat of the Chaudhary clan made the rule “with consensus.” They cited worries about mobile addiction and children’s eyesight harmed by too much screen time. Panch Himmataram presented the proposal, and other elders agreed to implement it. The community head, Sujanaram Chaudhary, said, “Some women give their phones to children to keep them distracted, allowing them to focus on their daily chores.” Despite the ban, girls pursuing education may use smartphones strictly for academic purposes at home but not at social events. The ban applies in villages including Ghazipur, Pawali, Kalda, Manojiyawas, Rajikawas, and others. Video of the decree was shared online, attracting criticism from activists and women's rights groups. People questioned how enforcement would work and viewed it as a way to protect family honor. On social media, some urged women to defy the order and protest, while others joked about men giving up habits like alcohol and tobacco in exchange for women accepting the rule.