“When the mind is happy, I get a lot of pleasant thoughts. Sometimes, I think I can say my statement publicly and shared my happiness with the world.”
Lolita (the name has been changed to keep identity secrets) is one of the about 2 lakh children living in a tribal residential establishment located in Dantwada district of Chhattisgarh.
The population of Chhattisgarh is about Tk 2 crore 60 million, of which a large number of rural and diverse tribes are included. 41 percent of the total population of the state is children under 18 years of age.
According to the National Family Health Survey -5 (NFHS -5), 5.6% of children lost their parents or both.
Admission rates in schools are high, but only 61% of children are able to complete higher secondary education, while 3% of girls between 15 and 19 years are forced to carry maternity burden at a young age.
In such a situation, the Chhattisgarh government has established tribal residential institutions in recognition of the need to give children more advanced education and employment opportunities.
In these institutions, the positive environment of children from far -flung regions is provided. Here they get opportunities for quality education and career development, so that they can brighten their future.
Since these institutes serve as a residential education program, the kids need to stay away from their family. This is a whole new experience for them. When some children take their new environment, many children remember their families.
Gurukul Superintendent Answar Zhadi said, “It is very important to provide mental health advice facilities here because these children come from far-flung villages and miss their parents a lot. Sometimes they cry a lot in their home memories at night. Even if they try to return home, they try to return home.
Manthan project
The state government has established the Manthan project considering this situation. The initiative started with the help of the tribe and the Scheduled Caste Department, Chhattisgarh government and UNICEF in India.
Through this initiative, mental health experts were associated with residential institutions in six districts of Basta – Kankar, Condagan, Narayanpur, Bastar, Dantawada and Sukma.
As part of the initiative, superintendents were given technical training so that they could take the role of parents for children and ensure their education and physical, mental and social welfare.
Psychoscopic support
In addition to these, collective sessions were organized to understand their needs better with the kids of all institutions and to give adequate time and direction to each child.
For this, the Department of Women and Child Development was given the capacity of psychological group sessions and provided assistance.
The District Mental Health Program (DMHP) was further empowered.
Under this initiative, mental health care was provided to the external patient departments and public awareness activities were organized in various fields.
“We conduct many sessions and activities for children,” said Roach Deshmukh, Superintendent of St. Girls Hostel. We learn their breathing techniques and hand practice methods, which are very useful for them. “
“Furthermore, we are also organizing cultural programs that reduce the dilemma of children and they can express their values with confidence.”
The purpose of the project is to create a helpful and nutritious environment for children in residential establishments. This initiative focuses on promoting mental health, initial identification of mental problems and ensuring the availability of necessary services.
As a result, it is positively affecting children’s lives.
