Parrikar says there is dearth of counsellors in State

TEAM HERALD

PANJIM: Large number of students fall prey to sexual harassment and physical abuse at the hands of their close acquaintances, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said, informing that 15,447 cases of sexual harassment, physical abuse, social and emotional difficulties, by school and college students have been handled by counsellors across Goa in the year 2013. 

Admitting that the government was finding it difficult to get qualified counsellors, Parrikar, who is Education Minister said that there are a total of 55 counsellors available with the education department, as against the requirement of 100. 

Chief Minister was speaking in the backdrop of the suicide committed by two college-going sisters from Sattari. Both the sisters had jumped from the Amona bridge. While one was rescued, the body of the other is yet to be found. 

The issue was raised during Zero Hour by BJP MLA Pramod Sawant. 

As per the information provided by Chief Minister, a total of 15,447 cases were handled by 55 counsellors in 2013 which include- 602 cases pertaining to behaviour of kids, 1,296 with learning difficulty, 4,044 with education difficulty, 317 with emotional difficulty, 1,155 with social difficulty, 102 cases of sexual harassment, 42 of physical abuse, 300 love affairs, 438 with health difficulties, 203 cases of substance abuse like ganja, smoking and 56 cases of suicide attempt. 

“The counsellors have found that some students were physically or sexually abused by their close relatives such as parents, neighbours and close relatives. This is a serious matter which needs to be dealt with seriously,” Chief Minister said. 

He said government is planning to train one teacher in every school in counselling.  

BJP MLA from St Andre Vishnu Surya Wagh has even urged the government to build ‘suicide proof’ bridges. 

“Many suicides are occurring by jumping off bridges… Government should build suicide proof bridges with the help of experts so that there are no suicides from the bridges,” he told the House during the general discussion of budget 2014-15 on Wednesday.