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.
He was hospitalized on the previous day after he suddenly took ill.
Comments
No words to speak after hearing the sad demise my favorate Mr. P.C.M. Kunhi. I met him last year in the month of April 2015 on my vacation in a programme. He spoke to me and asked about my wishes. Great Educationist, Academist, Philanthropist and wise man.
Helping hand for poor. I was with him in Yenepoya Dental College at Zulekha Complex, Bunder.
May Allah bestow him Jannathul Firdouse and Give him a cool and heavenly life in Barzak.
Aameen Ya Rabbul Aalameen..
Innaa Lillahi Wa Innaa llaihi Raajivoon. May the departed soul rest in peace. May Allah accept all his good deeds and forgive the sins. May Allah bless him with Jannah. May Allah give sabr ( patience ) to the grieved family to bear the loss of their dear one.
Heartfelt condolences.
our deepest condolences to the family members of pc kunhi,
we pray with almighty Allah give patience and strength to the nearest and dearest of all his family members, this is a great loss to all of us, once again we pray for the magfirah of departed soul of kind and soft man. Ameen
to Allah we belong and to Him is our return
our heartfelt condolences to the family members of pc kunhi . may Allah give patience, strength to all his nearest and dearest, the great loss of our family, my deepest condolence to all of them,
we once again pray with almighty for the maghfirah of departed soul of kind and soft man, ameen
Please accept our deepest condolences, \to Allah we belong and to Him is our return\""
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilahi Rajiwoon. Very sad and shocking news. We are with the aggrieved family
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajioon. May Allah grant him jannah. Indeed he was a great motivator. Hope his son Hashir will fulfill dreams of his father.
A great loss to the community and society. He was a role model for many. Despite his ill health he continued to fulfill his responsibilities.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioun. May Almighty Allah bestow with Jannathul Firdouse. A big loss to entire coastal muslims as well as for Islamic Academy of Education (Yenepoya University).
INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHI RAAJIOON.
The big loss for Muslim Community. He was the Correspondent of Badria College for decades.
May Almighty ALLAH bless him with Jannathul Firdous.
Inna Lillahi Wa inna ilaahi rajioon
The Great Academician, Educationist, Administrator,Philanthropist. the really big loss for the society, we wish him to take rebirth.
RIP, condolences to the family and loved ones.
RIP sir
wanaqalat shaqqana
unbelievable...really really hard to believe
Unbearable loss to the society “RIP”
Inna Lillahi Va Inna Ilaihi Raajivoon...
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajihoon. Allahummghfirlahoo warhamhoo whafu anhoo Yaa Rabbal Aalameen. May Almighty Allah bestow him with the Janathul Firdouse. ameen.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioun. we pray almighty allah to bless late.prof.p.c.m.kunhi, with his jannathul firdouse, aameen. our heartfelt condolences to the family members of prof.p.c.m.kunhi. may almighty allah give patience, strength and forbearance to all his family members to bear the brunt of bereavement. a soft spoken, well qualified civil engineer, educationist., academician and also an entrepreneur with humility. a very good footballer and a keen sportsman in his heydays. prof.p.c.m.kunhi, is closely known to us for the past 40+years., since his teaching days in krec-surathkal (now-nitk). particularly mangalore muslim community and others have lost a decent gentleman with high esteem. we once again pray with almighty allah for the maghfirah of the departed soul of this noble gentleman, aameen.
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