Aligarh: The Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, organised a Youth Parliament, commemorating the National Youth Day, observed annually on January 12 to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The event aimed at providing a platform to the MBBS students to engage in an insightful debate on a pressing contemporary issue.
Under the guidance of Prof. Uzma Eram, Officiating Chairperson, the Youth Parliament focused on the theme: “The Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of Youth.” The participants deliberated on the proposed “Digital Detox Bill: Regulating Social Media to Mitigate Its Impact on the Mental Health of Youth.”
The Government team, represented by 2023 batch MBBS students and led by Aryan Pratap Singh, advocated for regulating social media, highlighting concerns such as addiction, cyber bullying, and its negative effects on mental health.
The opposition team, represented by 2024 batch MBBS students and led by Mohammad Hashir argued against the bill, emphasising the indispensable role of social media in modern life and cautioning against over-regulation.
Dr. Karthika P, Senior Resident, who served as the Speaker of the Parliament, engaged the audience in a meaningful discussion on the pros and cons of social media regulation.
A distinguished panel of judges, comprising Prof. Sadiya Saeed (Department of Forensic Medicine), Dr. Mohammad Salman Shah (Community Medicine) and Dr. Naheed Akhtar (Ophthalmology), assessed the performances and declared the Opposition Team as the winner, with Mohammad Hashir as the Best Speaker and Faizan Akhtar as the Runner-up Best Speaker.
Junior Residents, including Dr. Chandramouli Mitra, Dr. Prabhakaran, Dr. Abirami S and Dr. Nishu Malik mentored the teams, while Dr. Shubham Upadhyay and Dr. Ajitha conducted the programme.
