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
Rasheed Bhai......... No individual is above the Nation. Personal attitudes will not damage the whole NATION and its CONSTITUTION. But a Political Party as a whole can make a difference to the NATION. Being a citizen of INDIA, just evaluate the Nation under BJP rule and CONGRESS rule you will get your ANSWER. Thank God.... your family is safe and secure, but think about those families who were the victims of BJP workers. The intolerance in last 4 years has gone from bad to worse. For God's sake, please keep your difference away especially for this State election and for upcoming General Election in Year 2019. All the best to all the Kannadigas and lets give another chance to CONGRESS to keep the injurious political party BJP much far away.
i think muslims should vote for Ashraf . attitudes of U.T is dangerous than bjp , he is selfish , his last five years attitudes shows he may sell entire community for his personel gains... such candidates should be defeated ....
improve ullal means..... he had not done anytihng to his own place then how we can trust him that he will develop karnataka/India........ i am not anti congress dear. but those who did not work for the welfare of the society should not win this election.... anyone maybe...... staying as loyal, honest, visiting funeral is not that he is good MLA or Minister.......
Abbu , what is your thinking brother, to improve ullal, you will vote against congress, really sad with your thinking , thing about India and people of Bharat , if you divide vote against the situation will be same , vote congress to get good results
use common sense please dont vote any muslims indipendent candidate, vote only congress
Some selfish and jealous people are trying to misguide the community. Instead of supporting and guiding the community to the unity, they try to divide just because of their selfish motives. Community should be very vigilant and aware of what is happening. While all secular forces trying hard to stop this Communal party, this kind of selfish people are trying to divide. They harm the community indirectly. Its better not to give an opportunity to our enemy rather than harming our own community. So be aware of this kind of selfish people. Its very easy for all political parties to be communal but secular parties are struggling. Instead of supporting secular parties, these selfish people trying to divide the votes. Very bad. Need to reject him outright.
Under the current state of affairs, we need to think about the whole KARNATAKA STATE and our great nation "INDIA". This JD(S) candidate is BJP's agent and they are not bother about our STATE & NATION. Even though if he win election this time, I can challenge he will never improve ULLAL. He will just fill his pocket and share few penny to BJP. Let all the Kannadigas be SMART and vote for CONGRESS - because the current situation in INDIA had forced all the MUSLIMS to vote only CONGRESS. We all should think that its CONGRESS V/S BJP only. No other parties should exists at this moment of time. Lets build a very strong and smart INDIA.
better vote all muslims for ashraf ... then how there will be vote divide..... UT khadar has not done anything to improve his place ullal
Good news for BJP
If you vote for Ashraf it is like voting for BJP. Do you want Modi and Amit Shah to win?
Be smart and don't vote for Ashraf
Add new comment