Port Blair, Feb 5: The Lt Governor Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd) today urged upon all concerned to put in their best efforts and work in synergy in order to minimise the increasing incidents of suicides among the people, especially the youth of these Islands. Lt Governor was speaking as the Chief Guest in the concluding session of the seminar titled “Ummeed……. Living For a Better Tomorrow”, organised by the Education Department, in association with the Deptt. of Social Welfare, Directorate of Health Services and Andaman Nicobar Police at DBRAIT auditorium here today.
Lt. Governor said various measures are required to be adopted to motivate the youth to get out of issues which drive them to suicides. “I ordered a study group on the issue 2 months back which had prepared a report within thirty days, which is to be followed up with various initiatives. This seminar nicknamed ‘Ummeed’ is one of the steps to follow up the report”, he added.
Lt. Governor asked the Education Department to prepare a booklet as well as audio and videos containing the concrete measures and suggestions which have emerged during discussion in the seminar and circulate it throughout the Islands among schools, colleges, among PRIs and various other stake holders to minimise the suicidal tendencies among the people.
Lt. Governor said the main objective of this seminar is to awaken the conscience of the people of A&N Islands which has become almost immune to growing incidents of suicides, crimes against Women & Alcoholism. He said “similar seminars can be organized at District level. Another aim of the seminar is to lend a helping hand to those who are in distress, to share and care so that such unfortunate incidents happening in these Islands can be reduced.
Speaking from his heart, the Lt Governor said “the very purpose of life is to live healthily and happily and also to make a difference in the lives of those who are not so blessed. We should contribute in a small and positive way for the benefit of other fellow human-beings who are not so fortunate. The Lt. Governor said the 21st century has brought many good things, but there are also negative influences in our life. One must learn to be contented and be happy. He urged one and all to adjust to the circumstances of life and quoted Swami Vivekananda by stating that “Life is a series of challenges and we have to overcome it”.
The Lt. Governor said that this seminar was very well structured and covered some of the burning issues. Giving few suggestions on each issue, the Lt. Governor firstly took up the issue of suicide and asked the students and other participants “Do you have the right to take your life which you have not created”? Stating that life is God’s gift, the Lt. Governor told gathering that nobody has the right to take his life. He urged each and everyone not to take the extreme step which, accordingly to him, affects the life of many others. The Lt. Governor said suicide may appear an easy solution for some, but leaves a trail of misery behind.
Turning to the youth, Lt. Governor said people should be blessed with such friends who are both their mirrors and shadows, a mirror never lies and shadows never leave you. This is the type of friends the youth must look for, Lt. Governor added. In his message to the parents, the Lt. Governor said that you have brought your child into this world. It is your bounded duty to look after the child with all your affection and warmth. Your child might not be an Einstein or a Tendulkar but he/she is yours. Give them special care as every child has different abilities. Try to recognize that ability and help to empower and take them forward. Don’t expect him to become a second rate version of someone else, let him be original version of himself and don’t raise unnecessarily high expectations from the child.
The Lt Governor called upon the stakeholders, specially parents, teachers, colleagues, friends, and Administration to work together to prevent this menace, saying that 155 suicide cases were registered here last year, which is not acceptable.
Every school and college, police station, every department of the Administration should have a helpline including Raj Niwas which should be publicized so that anyone who needs help can reach out to them.
On the crime against women and elders, the Lt. Governor said that everyone must learn to respect women. There have been incidences recently which are not an healthy indicator as far as the safety of women is concerned. He noted with appreciation that women and girls in these islands are very talented and confident and need to be given an environment where they can realise their talent.
On alcoholism, Lt. Governor said that everyone in the society including the Administration must take steps to ensure that alcoholism is cut down by creating awareness among the people of its adverse effect. He also appealed to the media to join in the campaign in a positive manner.
The Lt. Governor complimented the Secretary Education, Police Department and Social Welfare for organizing a seminar of this magnitude and urged the participants to act as torch bearers in disseminating the message.
The Secretary Education, Shri Devinder Singh Nijjer administered a pledge to the gathering which promised to reduce social evils such as suicide, alcoholism and crimes against women.
Earlier, in the inaugural session, the Chief Secretary, Shri Anand Prakash who described the seminar as a timely one, underlined the need to get into the root causes of the suicidal tendencies among the youth so as to prepare a concrete road map to address the problem.
The resource persons who addressed the seminar on different topics included Shri S. Parthiban, Faculty ANCOL, Shri Pankaj Kr Singh, SP (HQ), Ms Jyoti Chatwal, SI, Police Department, Dr. Mitesh Bihari, NRHM, DHS, Smt Ratna Kannan, Chairperson SSWB, Dr. Xavier Francis, Associate Professor JNRM and Smt. Sheela Singh, Ward Councillor, PBMC. The highlight of the seminar was the interactive session in which college students actively participated by posing relevant questions to the resource persons. Mrs Rubina Siddique and Mrs Pearl Devdas very ably steered the session as coordinaters.
Earlier welcoming the Hon’ble Lt Governor and the participants to the seminar, Shri Devinder Singh, Secretary (Education) observed that as parents, siblings, teachers, members of the society, we have social obligation to help our fellow human beings to come out of their shell so that no precious life is lost due to suicides.
