Aurangabad: The State Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) has asked all the affiliated institutions to counselling sessions for the students, so as to keep them away from negative emotions, including suicidal tendencies.In an official communication, issued to colleges offering professional courses, the DTE has pressed for roping in experts for delivering talks to students to develop positive frame of mind while coping with stress. The move has come in the backdrop of a series of incidents of students committing suicide across the state.Welcoming the move, student counselor Shashimohan Sirsat said, “The counselling should become integral parts of academic year to help students cope up with the stress.”He further said, “Students, these days, have been experiencing greater degree of stress. The foremost reason for this is growing competition and peer pressure. Counselling in colleges will do away with this stress and other negative feelings, which sometimes lead to extreme steps like suicides.”Notably, the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) in 2014 had asked its affiliated colleges to set up special forums to carry out counselling of students. The university had directed colleges to invite experts for carrying out counselling sessions, preferably at the beginning of every academic year.Student activist Sunil Rathod said, “Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (Bamu) should also ask all the principals to take similar steps for students. The reach of DTE is limited only to the colleges offering professional courses. Thus, we appeal to Bamu authorities to take necessary steps.”Despite repeated attempts, Bamu vice-chancellor B A Chopade could not be reached.A resource persons associated with NGO Connecting said, “Any distressed student must be given a listening ear first. While sharing his/her feelings and problems, students can frame the structure within their mind, which itself helps in analyzing and solving them.”Experts say that the process of active listening helps in reducing suicidal tendencies. Such non-judgmental listening makes a significant change in the suicidal tendency.Connecting has asked the students to reach out to their helpline numbers; +91 9922001122 and 18002094353.

Stay updated with all the Latest Aurangabad headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.