COVID-19 is a pandemic which has gripped the entire world in its vicious clutches. India is also facing grave challenges while fighting the coronavirus outbreak. The cases are rising every day and the death toll is also accelerating. The condition in various parts of India is worrisome and people are forced to minimize outdoor visits to save their lives.
While many people are suffering physically at the hands of the virus, a larger population is getting psychologically affected due to the poor economic condition amid the lockdown.
The students are facing the same fate and their condition is getting worse with each new notification and guideline by University Grant Commission (UGC), Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and their respective universities.
To tackle the mental stress, the government has launched an initiative however which looks hypocritical.
What Is Manodarpan?
Today, the Minister of Human Resource Development, Ramesh Pokariyal, launched a new initiative which aims to lessen the mental stress and agony of the students, teachers and parents who are finding it difficult to focus amidst the pandemic.
An initiative under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the Manodarpan platform’s goal is to provide psychological support to the students to ensure their mental health and well-being.
According to a statement given by the ministry, “The ‘Manodarpan’ initiative has been included in the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, as a part of strengthening human capital and increasing productivity and efficient reform and initiatives for the education sector.”
However, while launching the initiative, the government seems to have forgotten about the turmoil faced by the students pursuing higher education in India.
Read Also: LivED It: Here’s How Placement Preparation For Students During Lockdown Looks
What Is the Plight of Students?
The students who are pursuing higher studies in various disciplines from universities of India are facing acute turmoil due to the inconsistency between the decisions relating to their career.
Recently, the Delhi state government announced the promotion of students of all years without any exams in the Delhi state universities. However, despite the announcement, the Delhi State Universities went ahead with internal assessment, increasing the mental pressure on the students.
Another incident that has added fuel to the turmoil is the latest guideline issued by the UGC with regard to the terminal semester exams. The UGC has instructed the universities to conduct exams in offline (pen and paper), online or blended (online + offline) mode. The universities are dictated to wrap up the terminal semester exams by the end of September 30.
It is worthy to note here that various universities are starting with fresh semesters in the month of August.
Earlier, it was said that the college students may be awarded marks for the semester which was affected due to COVID on the basis of performance in the previous semester/year and internal assessment.
Keeping this in mind, various universities conducted internal assessment through online mode, creating problems for students who study in cities out of their hometown.
These changing guidelines are wreaking havoc on the mental wellness of the students who are struggling to get away with a semester where they were barely taught. It is adding to their misery since various institutions and courses have mandatory internship compliances.
The students rely on the government for relief, however, the sad indecisiveness on the part of the authorities is making students go crazy.
Before making attempts through platforms, the government should look into these important issues to reduce the stress experienced by students.
Image Source: Google Images
Sources: Hindustan Times, Live Law, National Herald
Find The Blogger At: @innocentlysane
This post is tagged under: mental health, well being, stress, students, teachers, parents, government initiative, manodarpan, GOI, ministry of human resource development, ministry of HRD, MHRD, UGC guidelines, exams, online exams, final year students, DU, university exams, lockdown, pandemic, online, offline, stress of students, guidelines for exams, case in High court, Delhi government, Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Ramesh Pokariyal
