The Cashmere Recuperation – journey to recuperation must start now!

The Amar Singh Club’s launch of “The Cashmere Recuperation” initiative is  an important societal action against the rising tide of digital addiction among children in Kashmir. By blending science, creativity, and community engagement, this program has offered a blueprint for reclaiming childhood from the clutches of screens and reconnecting Kashmir’s young minds with the tangible joys of life.

Digital addiction is a global crisis, but its repercussions are acutely felt in regions like Kashmir, where myriad other psychological stressors already burden the youth. Today we see Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among children like a pandemic. Socialisation skills are largely missing. Children mostly live in fake digital echo chambers, far away from the realities of life. Sadly, the digital world addiction has created a makebelieve in our children’s lives which will not equip them with the educational, emotional and social skills required to combat life’s core challenges.

The club’s planned innovative approach — through competitions in public speaking, chess, art, and physical challenges — recognizes that merely restricting screen time is insufficient. Instead, it seems to look at alternative avenues for intellectual growth, emotional expression, and physical vitality. The inclusion of neurodivergent children and the incentivization of girls’ participation is a thoughtful approach too.

However, the initiative’s true significance lies in its potential to catalyze a broader social movement. As speakers at the Club’s recent dialogues rightly emphasized, systemic change begins at the societal level. Families must reevaluate their reliance on digital pacifiers, educators must reimagine pedagogies, and policymakers must prioritize holistic child development. Kashmir’s education sector, in particular, has a pivotal role to play. Schools should integrate digital literacy programs that teach responsible technology use while expanding curricula to include outdoor learning, environmental stewardship, and arts. Imagine classrooms where lessons in science and literature are complemented by treks in Kashmir’s alpine meadows or sessions under the chinar trees—a return to nature that grounds children in reality and resilience!

The Amar Singh Club’s initiative also highlights the urgent need for collaboration. The involvement of subject  experts signals the value of merging academic insights with grassroots action. Similarly, partnerships between schools, NGOs, and local communities can amplify impact. For instance, eco-clubs, nature camps, and heritage walks could be institutionalized to counterbalance screen dependency.

Critically, “The Cashmere Recuperation” could also help to reassert Kashmir’s cultural ethos—one that cherishes human connection, creativity, and the natural world.

Scepticism aside, this is a  good beginning. For sustained impact, the initiative must expand into a sustained campaign, backed by policy reforms and public awareness drives. Let this spark ignite a movement where every stakeholder —parents, teachers, naturalists, environmentalists, artists, and leaders — unites to protect childhood. Ziraat Times will be supporting any such initiative, especially in expanding the ambit of this activity to include systemtic reconnection of our children with the natural world. A journey to recuperation must start now. Tomorrow might be too late.