'Majority of parents in Kolkata don't want kids in schools until COVID-19 vaccine is out'

90% of parents with primary school children don't want send them to schools now

hand sanitiser use (File) Representational image| Amey Mansabdar

A survey by a leading education group in Kolkata revealed that majority of the parents do not want their children to attend regular classes till COVID-19 vaccine hits the market.

Mukta Nain, director of the Birla High School, said, “Based on a survey we conducted, eighty per cent guardians said they were not ready to send their children to school. This rose to ninety per cent for parents with primary school children.”

Nain was speaking recently at a virtual panel discussion on mental health titled 'Towards Mental Health 360: Breaking Stigma, Stereotypes and Taboos', organised by Caring Minds, Kolkata’s leading psychotherapy centre, founded by psychotherapist Minu Budhia. The discussion mainly focused on the mental health of children vis-a-vis their parents.

Apart from Budhia, some of India's leading psychotherapists and psychiatrists participated in the panel discussion, attended by more than 550 registered participants.

Budhia said in India, suicide rates are on the rise among the students. “Suicide rates are high, especially among students who fail to clear examinations. Everyone plans for success, but no one plans for failure. This is an important learning we must teach our children. That is how to face the challenge in their career.”

She said the students and their families do not often come forward to seek help from psychologists. “The common refrain from approaching anyone for any issues related to mental health is Log Kya Kahenge (what people will think)”, she pointed out.

Another Psychiatrist, Dr. Nalini Juthani, said the pandemic has brought caused depression among people as it is not easy to stay under one roof round the clock, and children bear the brunt of this. “It (the pandemic) has brought all of us together under the same roof, 24x7, and this is not an easy situation to live in. This situation has led to an increase in domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and increased anxiety which has also developed into depression.”

Most of the time, children are at the receiving end of this unpleasant situation.

Bratati Bhattacharya, secretary general and CEO of Shri Shikshyatan, said, “Apprehension in children comes from non-achievement. We need to help them find something that is a combination of their ability, interests and potential. Also, parents should not put the burden of their own unsuccessful dreams on their children.”

Preeyam Budhia, who looks after the 'New Initiatives' section of Caring Minds, supported Bhattacharya as she said that children should not be stigmatised in any manner. “Everyone should have the freedom to be who they are and not be stigmatised for it,” she said.

It is also becoming increasingly difficult for the parents to control their children. Counsellor Nidhi Dwivedi asked, “What are the ideal ways to discipline teenagers? Also, how should one discipline a young child?”

Sanjay Budhia, managing director of Patton Group and chairman of the CII, Easter Region, said the industry is looking forward to get back to normalcy as soon as possible. Things would then be not as complex as it looks now perhaps. “We are all looking forward to move from the virtual to real and till that happens, we need to keep looking at the glass as half full”.



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