Psychological pressure on students in india

Parental pressure can result in suicides

Any exam results to be declared, helplines are all set to offer help to stressed-out parents and students. Last year's figures reveal that during times like these, suicidal tendencies run high among students. MJ Thomas, consultant psychiatrist of Sagar Apollo Hospital, gives a few tips to Arunima Rajan on how to handle anxiety attacks in the time of exam results.

How important is it to discuss the expectations of parents with the child?

Firstly, parents should have a relationship based on trust and understanding with their wards. Proper communication with their parents will help children to cope with stress better. The fact that the performance of a child is not only evaluated by parents but also by neighbours and relatives makes the situation even more difficult for him or her. Parents should encourage children to prepare as best as they can for the exams; but once the results are declared, they should accept them. They should not set unrealistically high goals.

What drives students into taking extreme steps?

Competition in developing countries like India is far greater than in developed nations. Parents often consider good education a passport for a secure life. Expectations of parents often overshoot the potential of the child. If there is a wide gap between expectation and performance, the child will be disappointed and can resort to an extreme step. It's important for parents to do a reality check and gauge a child's actual capability.

If the child gets low scores, how should the parents handle it?

Instead of telling him or her that they are disappointed, talk about why the child performed badly. Parents as well as teachers should talk freely with the child. Students also should have a clear idea about their potential. They must talk to parents and analyse the reason for their poor performance. Also parents often compare the result of a child with that of his/her siblings. This makes the situation worse. In many schools 15 % of students are under-achievers. Comparing scores of siblings should be avoided. Exams often evaluate the student's ability to memorise. It is not based on his problem solving skills. So it's important to keep in mind that students, who might not score in exams, might perform well in jobs.

What are the warning signs that parents should look out for?

If your child shows a sudden change in his/her behaviour, then you should be careful. If you find your child depressed and not eating properly, get professional help. Some students might not be able to deal with stress and might resort to anti-social behaviour. They may also turn violent. Try to talk your child out of depression. Single parents might find it difficult to handle the child. He/she can seek the help of a mentor who should be someone the child can look up to.

Yours truly,
The Revitalization of Governance Forum
India.

The Indian Education

PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION IN INDIA –

IS IT ALL ABOUT MONEY?

Other than one detail that primary school education in India is an extremely expensive affair, there is little that parents know about it. A child is hardly 2 years old and parents start worrying. Which would be a good school or how much will it cost for the admissions or what if my child does not clear the admission procedure? Situation in metro cities is worse.

Consider Delhi for example. The admission to a primary school here is a real pain. Frankly the procedures are somewhat funny. The schools here have innovated a point system, wherein based upon the points a students earns, he or she is granted admission. And what are these points? No primary schools are not interested in judging the mental capability of a student, but instead more concerned about the following:

• Is it a girl child or a boy child: extra points for a girl child. Poor boys, they pay for the favoritism.

• Parent’s education: extra points if parents are educated. So if for any financial, personal or healthiness reason, you couldn’t study, your child will be denied admission to the primary school.

• Distance between your home and school: If you stay close to the school you’ve applied for, good enough, or else be ready to lose another few points.

• Locality: Children from few specific regions are not eligible for primary school education. No this is not a government rule, but a criterion followed by many private schools extending primary education in India or specifically Delhi. An example here is Shahdra, east Delhi.

• Parent’s profession: Parents from professional work background are preferred over business families. What do you think could be the rational behind this discrimination?

• Single parents mean more points and easy admission.

And this is just the situation of primary school admissions in the capital city; other regions are no better.

Due to the stated or whatever, admissions at primary school level are denied. And then comes the hidden clause – donations or charity or unreasonable fees.

Well don’t take my word on this, but trust UNESCO at least.

UNESCO report finding: Primary school education in India is costlier than university.

Primary school education is the basic level or let’s say something that every child deserves. It is for this reason, that it is a fundamental right. However this fundamental right is proving to be very expensive for an average India family. As per the UNESCO report on the subject, an Indian family spends quite a huge amount on primary school.

Yours truly,
The Revitalization of Governance Forum
India.

Congratulations and worm Welcome to Pradeep Kumar is New INDIAN CVC

Welcome to Pradeep Kumar is New INDIAN CVC

Defence secretary Pradeep Kumar was unanimously chosen on Saturday as the next central vigilance commissioner, four months after the Supreme Court had quashed the appointment of PJ Thomas to the post.

Though no official announcement has been made yet, sources said Kumar, who retires as defence secretary on July 31, was chosen by consensus by a panel comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, home minister P Chidambaram and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.

Pradeep Kumar, who will be 62 in September, is a Haryana cadre IAS officer of the 1972 batch. He was secretary, defence production, before becoming the defence secretary. He will have a tenure of little over three years when he will have to demit office on attaining the age of 65.

Swaraj, who had opposed in writing the appointment of Thomas as CVC, had no objection to Kumar's candidature.

"The name has been finalised... I have not raised any objection," Swaraj told reporters after the 20-minute meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence but she did not disclose the name.

Sources had said that a list of probable candidates were prepared by the department of personnel and Training which placed it before the selection panel.

Those whose names figured in the initial list included Pradeep Kumar, former home secretary GK Pillai, former chemicals and fertilisers secretary Bijoy Chatterjee, former secretary, legislative affairs VK Bhasin, former urban development secretary M Ramachandran and personnel secretary Alka Sirohi. Pillai and Sirohi are said to have opted out of the race.

Thomas' selection in September last had created a major controversy with reports coming out about his facing a charge sheet in the palmolein import scandal in Kerala.

A war of words erupted between the government and the opposition after Swaraj had recorded her dissent to the selection of Thomas, a Kerala cadre officer.

The Supreme Court had on March 3 set aside the appointment of Thomas as central vigilance commissioner.

In the midst of a raging controversy, the Prime Minister had also accepted responsibility for the selection.

The apex court had termed as "illegal" the September 3, 2010 recommendation for appointment of Thomas as CVC since the high-powered committee did not consider the pending charge sheet against Thomas in the palmolein import scam.

Yours truly,
The Revitalization of Governance Forum
India.

To The Chairman and Managing Director APEPDCL

To

Sri.Ahmad Nadeem,I.A.S.,

Chairman and Managing Director

APEPDCL.

Visakhapatnam

Andhrapradesh
INDIA..

Sir,

Here we bring to your kind notice the fact that KONASEEMA villages are facing a lot of problems for irregular electric supply and low voltages... 

Unscheduled power cuts:

The power supply in KONASEEMA Area has become a big nuisance causing untold miseries to our daily lives. Power outages of long and short durations are as many as 5 to 10 times each day and there is as much as 10 to 15 hours of total time each day spent without power supply. Most of the times the complaint telephones are either not picked up or the land lines are kept off the cradle. If they do reply, it is only that a maintenance work is in progress. What kind of professionalism is this that APEPDCL needs maintenance with the frequency mentioned above? How many times each day and how many times each month does APEPDCL conduct maintenance? This has been disrupting our home and professional lives. Either the explanation (maintenance in progress) given by the staff is a lie or if it is true, the department is totally incompetent to handle power supply.

Illegal power cuts:

The power supply in KONASEEMA from the past one year there has been an increase in power cuts. Last one month was the most frustrating  month for the locality as the power frequently went off and did not came till the early morning, and the routine is continuing on everyday morning as well. What is the most disgusting and frustrating part is that when I try to call the APEDPCL Helpline nos. either they do not respond to the calls or make rude statements that its a routine cut will be restored in few minutes or call after half an hour. This is disgusting from a Government organization which has to work for people’s welfare and not torture them. I urge APEPDCL to train there people to behave properly and work efficiently.

Massive power cuts:

The most pathetic electricity board in this country is APEPDCL. They have no respect for citizens' well being and are absolutely inefficient. Transformers blow up as regularly as one can possibly think of. Then they do not find it necessary to rectify these problems as soon as possible. God forbid if the transformer blows during the evening then only expect to get it repaired the next day. Last week the power supply was absent for 12 hours a day because APEPDCL deemed it unnecessary to get it repaired ASAP. I find it amusing that a state which out sources its power to neighboring states cries about the lack of it. I stay in KONASEEMA and experience long power cuts everyday and it becomes longer during the weekends when families want to spend sometime with each other. Bravo APEPDCL.. You are a living proof of shameless service providing inadequacies of our Government organizations.

Please start to wake up, don’t do just strike for pay hike and do also work. We Would request you to kindly look into the matter and do justice for the people at the earliest. 

Yours truly,
The Revitalization of Governance Forum
India.