Affected students to be counselled soon
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 03 2024:
Even as the violence in Manipur completed eight months, Education (S) Director Laishram Nandakumar has said that the department will start sending Counsellors to relief camps very soon to treat students with emotional and psychological problems.
He made the remark during the 22nd foundation day of Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur, (DESAM) held at COMET school campus at Changangei Uchekon, today.
At the function, the Education (S) Director continued that the role of students in shaping a healthy society is immense and as such they (the students) must control their emotions to achieve their goals.
The foundation day was held under the theme "Rising above challenges through quality education" .
He also said that the education sector has been badly affected by the ongoing violence which started on May 3 .
Saying that about 15,000 students are still taking refuge at different relief camps, Nandakumar reiterated that the Education Department will start holding counselling programmes for the displaced students shortly.
He maintained that they will always support all the initiatives taken up by the student organisations for the wellbeing of the students.
Delivering the keynote address, DESAM secretary general Mayengbam Somorjit Luwang extended support to all the village volunteers guarding Meetei villages from the onslaught of Chin Kuki narco-terrorists and those displaced from their native places.
He said that many of the challenges the State has been facing can be resolved through education.
Highlighting many issues of the State, Somorjit said that it is the lack of social discipline which makes building unity among the people difficult.
The DESAM leader went on to say that quality education must be given to the students to solve the chronic issues of the State such as widespread drug abuse, environmental degradation etc.
Further stating that the Covid pandemic and the ongoing violence have taken a heavy toll on the mental health of many students, he appealed to all educational institutions to set up a psychological support cell and provide counselling to the students from time to time.
He further appealed to the State Government and relevant authorities to take up special measures to identify students with mental problems and hold counselling for them.
DESAM president Leishangthem Lamyanba, advisor Moirangthem Angamba and COMET Principal Thoudam Devachandra also attended the programme among others.
During the observance, DESAM gave its annual Maichou Khongnang Thaba Award to Assistant Teacher of St.
Joseph's Higher Secondary School Akoijam Jibanlata while certificates of appreciation were given to Primary Teacher at Samushang Shantipur Upper Primary School Y Somorendro and Dr Ksh Chitrabhanu, a faculty at DM Community College.