YES

Divert attention

If students have access to credit cards, they will splurge unnecessarily on entertainment and other luxuries, which will divert their attention from studies. Their parents will have to bear credit card expenses, which will be a financial burden. Therefore, it is best to not give credit cards to students because they do not have the monetary maturity that is necessary to handle them.

Shiladitya Arka,
Krishnath College, Berhampore

Card fraud

Credit card frauds are on the rise. Students with their vulnerability will easily fall prey to these cyber crimes. So students should abstain from credit card usage.

Raka Sikdar,
Lady Brabourne College, Calcutta

Waste of money

If students are allowed to use credit cards, they may end up incurring some extravagant expenses and/or may fall victim to bad habits that will affect the family as well as the society. They should be taught to lead a financially disciplined life as they are the future pillars of the country. So, in my view students should not be allowed to use credit cards.

Shubham Jain,
Hariyana Vidya Mandir, Calcutta

Need supervision

Without proper supervision, students may tend to spend lavishly on unnecessary or unhealthy things, which is obvious given the popularity of pubs among youngsters. Hence, they must be barred from using credit cards to ensure possibilities of incidents that may prove disastrous.

Protyay Ghosh Hazra,
Bangabasi Morning College, Calcutta

Earn first

Students generally work seasonally, part-time or not at all. One should have enough income to pay the balance. Using a credit card without enough money to repay can lead to debt troubles and damaged credit due to higher rates of interest. Therefore, students should not use credit cards.

Farheen Ali,
Kendriya Vidyalaya Latehar, Jharkhand

NO

Fiscal responsibility

Instead of handing students liquid cash, credit cards are a much safer way of carrying out transactions. Also, giving them credit cards helps them become fiscally responsible. They learn financial skills such as managing credit, financial planning and avoiding overspending. This makes them prudent money managers.

Soham Pathak,
La Martiniere For Boys, Calcutta

Helps in emergencies

Students should be allowed to use credit cards because it helps them tackle emergency situations when they are short of money. It is particularly beneficial for students who stay away from their parents.

Agnidhro Ganguly,
Techno India, Salt Lake, Calcutta

Self-reliance

It is not possible for parents to provide money whenever their children need it. So, carrying a credit card can be useful. It allows students to draw money and get on with the project at hand. It also gives the student confidence that he or she can work independently and can depend on himself or herself to not be diverted into illegal activities.

Anuron Mullik,
Narula Institute of Technology, Calcutta