The Chaudhury caste panchayat in Rajasthan's Jalore district ordered all women and girls in their community to stop using smartphones with cameras from January 26. Instead, they must use only basic phones without cameras, allowing only calls. The panchayat claimed the ban aimed to protect children from phone addiction and preserve the community’s values. Women were allowed to use smartphones at home for study but were forbidden from stepping outside with them. This order was announced on December 21 but sparked huge criticism on social media, with many comparing it to strict regimes like the Taliban. The video of the panchayat’s diktat went viral, drawing the attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The NHRC issued a notice to the Jalore District Magistrate and asked for a report on actions taken within two weeks. Following NHRC's intervention and widespread backlash, the panchayat retracted the decision on December 25, calling the video's interpretation "wrong context." Panchayat head Sujanaramji Chaudhury said the ban was due to concerns that "women don’t need smartphones as they don’t run offices," and to protect children from screen addiction. Many women in the community, including Anju and Deshu Chaudhury, expressed frustration. They said women are often excluded from decisions affecting them and that smartphones are a rare link to the outside world. Some women support the ban, stating phones are rarely used by them due to household duties and children using data, while others see it as restricting their freedom. Experts note the gender gap in phone ownership in rural India, where 80.7% men own phones compared to 48.45% women. Educators highlight that restrictive social norms limit girls’ education and aspirations. Similar gender-neutral digital detox initiatives promoting reduced screen time run in other Indian villages like Halaga in Karnataka and Mohityanche Vadgaon in Maharashtra. The incident highlights ongoing tension between tradition and technology in rural India, especially concerning women's access to digital tools and freedom.