New Delhi: "Children in schools need to be cautioned about the suicidal game Momo Challenge through morning assemblies," states the advisory made by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), "in order to save them from becoming the victim of the game."
The Momo Challenge reportedly started on social media where users were 'challenged' to communicate with an unknown number. The game uses the image of a doll with scary features and large protruding eyes.
The advisory claimed that cases of children resorting to the online game has sent shock waves across the intelligentsia and citizens in the country.
"Making parents and children aware of the life threatening game is the need of the hour," said Ranjana Prasad, a member of child rights body who wrote to the Delhi government's Directorate of Education (DoE) and Municipal Corporations.
She told Millennium Post, "Apart from school assemblies, parents can also be sensitised about the looming threat by addressing the issue in the meetings of the school management committees, be it routine or special."
Nine important points were mentioned in the advisory for safety of kids, which include "To check the mobiles of their wards to see if any suspected or unknown contact is creeping up on the child."
"Children should be advised not to accept any invitation to play the game from any unknown number or to fall for an unidentified link," it further noted.
"Local police authorities are to be immediately informed once an invitation to play the killer game is received. Frequent visit of the child to Cyber Cafe should be monitored. Awareness of counselling regarding the menace and proper precautionary measures will go a long way in the dissipation of this nuisance," added the advisory.
The passwords of email accounts, along with other social networking sites, must be frequently changed. Anti-virus software should be installed, blocking any suspicious or vulnerable links, spyware or malware.
The letter written to DoE claimed that necessary directions on the subject should be given to head of all schools and under their control and action taken be shared with the Commission in 20 days.
"DCPCR is seriously observing objectionable harmfulness content for children on which we will take action," said Prasad.