Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 12: At least 66 children have ended their lives in Kerala since the Covid-19 lockdown began on March 25 with youngsters facing stress unable to bear the unprecedented situation where schools are shut and friends are out of reach to share their woes.
According to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, there has been an increasing instance of suicidal tendencies among children in the state due to various reasons, including parents scolding them over mobile phone use and failure to attend online classes.
This has prompted the government to launch a teleconsultation facility for children facing stress and also cautioning parents against hurting their sentiments while being concerned about welfare of their wards. It has also ordered a study into the issue. "Among the children an increasing instance of suicidal tendency is being witnessed which will become an extremely serious social issue.
Since March 25, when the national lockdown was imposed, 66 children, below 18 years of age, have ended their lives due to various reasons", Vijayan said. A mother scolding her child for not attending the ongoing online classes, or a parent questioning a child for downloading a sleazy video on the smartphone or the constant rift between the parents were among the reasons which triggered the suicidal tendency, he said on Saturday.
As the schools have not yet re-opened due to the lockdown, the children are unable to meet their friends and share their problems. Vijayan said though the parents were intervening keeping in mind their child's welfare, it was essential to ensure that the young minds were not hurt in the process. To helpthe children facing issues relating to mental pressures, 'Chiri'atele-counselling initiative has been started by the government under its Our Responsibility to Children Programme (ORC), a planned community intervention that connects with people between the age of 12-18 years. The state health department has also launched "Ottakalla Oppamundu" (You are not alone,we are with you) programmeto help children facing any kind of mental distress and to prevent the suicidal tendencies among them.
Health Minister K K Shailaja said under the psychosocial support assistance, her department has so far reached out to 68,814 children and 10,890 children have been given counselling. The changes in the behaviour of their children should be noted by the family members and if they find something amiss, the district psychosocial help desk should be informed, she said. A 15-member team of Students Police Cadets will be constituted in each of the 14 districts to help the children needing any assistance,police sources said. Education should not be a competition, but a means to gain knowledge, Vijayan said.
A society's future lies with the children and it is the duty of the society and the government to ensure their physical and mental well being. Taking a serious view of the situation, the state government has constituteda committee headed byFire and Rescue Services DGP R Sreelekha to conduct a study on child suicides in the state. The aim of the ORC was also to create a multi collaborative platform for government and professional agencies, parents and teachers to equip youth with appropriate know-how to face challenges, officials said.
Comments
Naren
terrorism started from Sikhs not Muslims and till today your people only following it. No need to teach matured person like you so understand the logic of your people.
Is constitution said to make illegal relationship with ladies without marrying them to fulfill your desire? Is your community got the message from constitution to rape in the bus and to kill innocent girl? Constitution made for good will of the citizens not to torture them.
there is no deference between you and Israel but remember we fear Almighty.. Not you or them!
rikacha , nimma root navare kanri , foot alla ... hahaha ...
You cannot expect more than these goondas who dont heistate to worship anything. they don't know what is God
Here we cant show patience or silence.
When justice fails, then Tit for tat is only the ultimate solution.
constitution dont say u can marry 4 , constitution dont say u can do terrorism , killings , rapes , but ur community does it . then whats the problem in telling this ... first of these three rogues are not indians , they look like pakistanis ...isis barodakke they are creating launch pads , but nationalist indians are there to protect hindus , sikhs and christians ..nam deshadalli yaava kumda salafist backed isis nadiyalla ... anybody questions our nations integrity will be strongly dealt with . Muzzies are thinking by doing this they can bring down modi from PM post . no ... not at all possible . there is a deep polarisation even in villages it isnow being felt . by 2024 , India will be hindu rashtra for sure . to amend constitution 2/3 majority needed and all states if we make congress mukht we are done . with coopearting with israelis , defintely we can achieve this . ummah is so weak that it is already divided , no body has guts to speak against India if it does so ... even if they speak , millitarily they are not on par with India .gulf countries want USD from India , for their cheap petrol . hahaha
No one can change the faith by forcing anything.
bitter truth for RSS
Very dangerous for the future of India. Rising intolerance, forcing others what one practices, poking nose in other's matters, dictating what to eat what to wear, all these will eventually lead to sectarian fights, genocides, civil war etc., India may end up in situation similar to Iraq and Iran. BJP sarkar and Sangh parivar must control their bhakts before it is too late.
Constitution even did not say to eat or drink :P
By looking at their face they look very papa, but they raised voice against what other side party asked. strange but true.
What if they call Jai Mata Di or not?
accused must be punished who are they to beat the innocents.
my foot....
Its Their Wish any constitution dint asked all the citizen to call anything particularly.
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