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Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. "Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia," the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter's death, saying the world lost an "extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian" and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter's compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. "To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning - the good life - study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility," Biden said in a statement. "He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people - decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong." Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world - Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation's highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. "My faith demands - this is not optional - my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference," Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon's disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. "If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don't vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president," Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women's rights and America's global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter's electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 "White House Diary" that he could be "micromanaging" and "excessively autocratic," complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington's news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. "It didn't take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake," Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had "an inherent incompatibility" with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives - to "protect our nation's security and interests peacefully" and "enhance human rights here and abroad" - even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. "I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia," Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. "I wanted a place where we could work." That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter's stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went "where others are not treading," he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. "I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don't," Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton's White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America's approach to Israel with his 2006 book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid." And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center's many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee's 2002 Peace Prize cites his "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. "The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place," he said. "The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect." Carter's globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little "Jimmy Carters," so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house - expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents - where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington's National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America's historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. "I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore," Stuart Eizenstat, Carter's domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. "He was not a great president" but also not the "hapless and weak" caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was "good and productive" and "delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office." Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton's secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat's forward that Carter was "consequential and successful" and expressed hope that "perceptions will continue to evolve" about his presidency. "Our country was lucky to have him as our leader," said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for "an epic American life" spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. "He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history," Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter's political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery's tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 - then and now - Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office - he later called it "inconceivable" not to have consulted her on such major life decisions - but this time, she was on board. "My wife is much more political," Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn't long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 - losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox - and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist "Dixiecrats" as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as "Cufflinks Carl." Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. "I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over," he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader's home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats' national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: "Jimmy Who?" The Carters and a "Peanut Brigade" of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter's ability to navigate America's complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared "born-again Christian," Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he "had looked on many women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times." The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced - including NBC's new "Saturday Night Live" show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter "Fritz" Mondale as his running mate on a "Grits and Fritz" ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady's office. Mondale's governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname "Jimmy" even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band's "Hail to the Chief." They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington's social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that "he hated politics," according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation's second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s - after Carter left office. He built on Nixon's opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn't immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his "malaise" speech, although he didn't use that word. He declared the nation was suffering "a crisis of confidence." By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he'd "kick his ass," but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with "make America great again" appeals and asking voters whether they were "better off than you were four years ago." Reagan further capitalized on Carter's lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: "There you go again." Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages' freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with "no idea what I would do with the rest of my life." Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. "I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything," Carter told the AP in 2021. "But it's turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years." Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. "I'm perfectly at ease with whatever comes," he said in 2015. "I've had a wonderful life. I've had thousands of friends, I've had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence."Jimmy Carter, 39th US president, Nobel winner, dies at 100
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From Idu Jude, Abuja The Electoral Hub, a civil society organisation (CSO), has said that the success of the just-concluded Ondo State election will continue to serve as a positive example for future elections in Nigeria and reinforces the importance of continuous improvement in the country’s electoral processes. The Director of the group, Princess Hamman-Obels, in a press briefing, stated that the 2024 Ondo election represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s democratic journey. The group said that the election showcases the potential for free, fair, and credible elections when all stakeholders work together towards a common goal of protecting electoral sanctity, accountability, and integrity. “Consequently, we call on all Nigerians to remain engaged in the democratic process, to continue to demand transparency and accountability from our electoral institutions, political and sociocultural leaders, and to actively participate in shaping the future of our nation.” Furthermore, the group observed that the preparedness rate across most visited centres indicates a generally high level of electoral readiness. The statement reads in part: “In observing the electoral process, we found good improvement in electoral logistics. Notably, on election day, the majority of polling units opened promptly at 8:30 AM. This demonstrates INEC’s commitment to improvements and maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. It also shows better performance compared to the previous elections from state transport providers such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN). “We observed the participation of the aged, youth, and women, including special groups such as pregnant women and those with infants. They were also prioritised by provisions of INEC guidelines and regulations, in compliance with Section 54 of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides for appropriate treatment for voters with disabilities (VWD), such as providing braille and magnifying glasses at PUs. “We observed a high level of good conduct by ad-hoc staff in the election (e.g. presiding officers—NYSC and LGA collation officers—lecturers), as they were able to carry out duties expected of them by the rules and regulations for the conduct of the election and in good time. This testifies to the training and retraining that INEC informed stakeholders was done. “They performed very well, both for accreditation and result upload. The effective use of BVAS played a crucial role in enhancing INEC’s electoral service delivery, such as quick and smooth voter accreditation. During accreditation, there were reduced incidents of impersonation and enhanced transparency. The BVAS performance was also excellent during the result management process, as over 90% of the PU results in EC8A were already uploaded on the IReV by 6:30 PM on election day. This is one of the quickest records so far since the introduction of the BVAS technology. BVAS contributed significantly to the credibility and integrity of the voting and result-access process. “The prompt uploading of PU results (the EC8As) to the IReV allowed for real-time monitoring of election outcomes, fostering transparency and trust in voters and citizens. As of 6 PM on election day, over 80% of the PU election results had been uploaded to the IReV portal. At the end of the process on November 17, 2024, a total of 3,907 out of 3,933 PU results had been uploaded to the portal, representing 99.34% of the PU results. “We observed at the State Collation Centre that by 11:40 PM on election day, 10 out of the 18 LGAs had brought their results, and by 2 AM, an additional 5 LGAs brought results. State collation started at midnight. The remaining 3 LGAs—Odigbo (340 PUs), Ilaje (292 PUs), and Ese Odo (143 PUs)—came on Sunday morning due to their distance and terrain (riverine LGAs). “Security personnel were present in the polling units observed. For instance, PU 005, Ward 05, Akure North LGA; PU 007, Ward 04, Akoko North West LGA; PU 006, Ward 04, Akoko North West LGA; and PU 011, Ward 04, Akoko North West LGA, had adequate security present for the conduct of the election. Security agents were also very heavily present in the LGA and State Collation Centres. For instance, in Ifedore and Akure LGA Centres, we recorded over twenty (20) uniformed security personnel. This number was doubled at the State Collation Centre, where the final results collation, announcement, and declaration were held. “The election was generally peaceful. We commend the efforts of stakeholders such as the security agencies and election officials to maintain order, accountability, and transparency during the process. In particular, the citizens of Ondo State must be commended for a peaceful electoral environment. They were the real MVPs of the election, as they have once again proven that democracy thrives when individuals are civil and committed to upholding electoral integrity. Voters demonstrated commitment.” On the peaceful conduct of the election, it said the citizens serve as a good practice for future elections. Commenting on the downside of the election, The Electoral Hub pointed out that there were incidents of violence, ballot snatching, and shooting in Idanre LGA during the poll. Shooting occurred at RA 06, Unit 1; RA 07, Units 3, 7, and 10. Thugs snatched a ballot box at RA 02, Unit 9. It also noted that there was poor voter turnout for the election. The total votes cast for the election were 508,963. The total register of voters was 2,053,061, while the total PVCs collected was 1,757,205. Voter turnout based on the register of voters is 24.7%, approximately 25%, while based on PVC collection, it is 28.96%, approximately 29%. This low turnout is possibly because of the general disenchantment of citizens not experiencing the expected ‘dividends of democracy’. Citizens’ apathy to governance is generally on the rise due to challenging socioeconomic realities. It also noted that one of the major downsides of the election is the massive vote-trading by party agents and voters. “During the polls, the major political parties bought votes between ₦3,000 and ₦10,000. This has become a feature of our electoral landscape in Nigeria and will continue if the socioeconomic woes are not addressed and the standard of living of citizens is not improved. The Electoral Hub remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting electoral knowledge, accountability, and integrity. “We believe that continuous dialogue and multilogues among stakeholders are essential for fostering a fair, accountable, and transparent electoral environment conducive to democratic participation. Therefore, we call on all stakeholders, including the EMB, political parties, civil society, and the public, to uphold electoral laws, ensure electoral accountability, and safeguard electoral sanctity and integrity. Beyond elections, we urge all stakeholders to continue working together towards a more robust democratic system.”
By Teeuwe Mevissen, senior macro strategist at Rabobank Did we leave behind the cost of living crisis? Obviously this depends on one’ s financial situation but for some money ain’t a thang as Jermaine Dupri would say. Recently the ‘art’ concept ‘ the comedian’ was auctioned via the legendary auction house Sotheby’s. A crypto ‘investor’ is now the new and proud owner of a banana and a roll of silver coloured duct tape. The price? $6.2 million and up from $ 120K in 2019 . This is still peanuts compared to the Magritte that was also auctioned at the other legendary auction house Christie’s and sold at the hefty price of $121 million . More money more problems? Or more money more bananas? It’s likely bananas since it all seems bananas nowadays. Yesterday for instance, Russia rattled it’s nuclear sabre once more because it apparently thinks that it’s only Russia’s privilege to use long range weapons obtained from its pariah partners. This was after the West had to discuss bananas once more to finally decide that certain types of weapon systems could be used by Ukraine - and if so - how. Or maybe instead we should discuss how to end the war in 24 hours without addressing and more importantly solving the true underlying problem(s). Looking at bitcoin one might think that all problems have already been solved. At the moment of writing bitcoin is approaching $100.000 because of expectations of a pro-crypto administration and also indicating that there is plenty of risk appetite in various corners. Stock markets also seem to have brushed off the recent escalation regarding the war in Ukraine with a Dow Jones close to reaching a level of 44,000. But when one takes a look at eurodollar, the exchange rate diving below a level of 1.05 seems to indicate that there is plenty of (geopolitical) risk and market participants are looking for safe havens. Weak data from Europe this morning, obviously are not helpful here. Regardless let’s discuss bananas simply because it’s all bananas. So let’s switch from bananas to economic data which in some cases is actually more related to each other than one might think. While the data calendar of yesterday did not have much to offer, today markets will be offered more insights. UK retail sales volumes fell 0.7% in October, after a revised 0.1% rise in September (down from 0.3%). Monthly retail sales look like a seesaw, often swayed by factors like weather. Over the three months to October 2024, volumes rose 0.8% compared to the three months to July, and 2.4% year-on-year. However, they remain 1.5% below pre-pandemic levels from February 2020, highlighting the lasting impact of weak growth and inflation. Germany’s Q3 growth was revised down to 0.1% q/q from 0.2%. While this still beats the initial forecasts, the economy’s business model is faltering, and storm clouds loom for next year, particularly with Trump tariffs on the horizon. Preliminary data measuring European purchase manager indices paint a harrowing picture of sentiment in both the services as well as in the manufacturing sector. Sentiment in the French services sector dropped sharply and came in much lower than expected (45.7 vs 49 expected). Sentiment in the French manufacturing sector also disappointed coming in at 43.2 vs 44.5 expected). Both indices indicating an economic downturn. The survey also highlighted that ‘cost pressures’ remain a concern (even in France where wage growth is considerably lower than in, for example, Germany). Operational expenses increased at the fastest rate in 3 months, albeit at a limited rate compared to the series average. Many panellists cited higher wages as the main reason for the cost increases. Output charges rose, but this was fully driven by services providers; manufacturing gave discounts to deal with competition. Germany also reported a manufacturing PMI of 43.2 vs 43 expected and sentiment in the services sector dropped to a level of 49.2 where a level of 51.7 was expected. The survey reports uncertainty among panellists, with services providers highlighting fewer new orders from manufacturers. Falling goods production and a lack of incoming new work therefore remains a major drag on overall economic output. This indicates that Germany’s economy is still very much struggling and that a new government will have plenty of issues to deal with.This Youth Generation: Youths create more problems by ignoring parental advice
Cebu Pacific achieves milestone with record-breaking aircraft orderPune: In an age where internet and devices are the core of human existence, young children are being exposed to the dark side of the very technology that otherwise makes life easy. Kids are increasingly exposed to inappropriate online content — leading to concerns of porn addiction and its dire consequences. Experts said curiosity is not the problem, but absence of open, honest and age-appropriate conversations about sex at home and in schools is. A combination of moral policing, hyper-sexualised media and lack of dialogue has created an ecosystem where children seek answers in unsafe spaces, unaware of and susceptible to lurking dangers. Dr Sadhana Natu, professor and head of the department of psychology at Modern College, Ganeshkhind, has worked in sex education for over three decades. "There are hardly any efforts towards sex education. Children have unanswered questions, leading to repression and, eventually, addiction. When ecosystems are conducive to open conversations, children can ask questions and receive age-appropriate answers without fear or shame," she said. Natu said a lack of distinction between pornography, erotica and healthy discussions on relationships makes matters worse. "In our ‘Disha Speak Out' programme, we have facilitated non-judgmental dialogues on love, attraction, sex and sexuality for 32 years. Such conversations allow children to develop equal and gender-sensitive relationships, rather than turn to harmful influences." Dr Vishal Harpale, a cognitive behavioural psychotherapist, spoke of the need for digital awareness and supervision. "There's very little awareness and prevention regarding porn consumption among children. Solutions include increasing digital literacy in parents, introducing school programmes on harmful online content and implementing technological tools like parental controls," he said, while highlighting the larger role of the society in building a vigilant and supportive ecosystem for children. Experts said children's exposure to sexual content often begins unintentionally — on a parent's phone or through peer influence. Sonali Kale, a psychologist at Muktangan Rehabilitation Centre, said, "A nine-year-old child who tries something they've seen online does not understand the consequences. It's critical for parents to monitor what their children are watching and to ensure that the content on their own devices is appropriate when shared." Psychologist Kinjal Goyal said society fails to protect children with access to smartphones and internet without safeguards. Goyal called for stronger laws, age-based content limits and open conversations at every level and said, "Children are overexposed to violence and sexual content, but we're ignoring the problem instead of addressing it. We need to enforce rules, take collective responsibility as families and schools and talk when things go wrong. It's time to create a safer and healthier future for our children." Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
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