School Education Minister Dr. Chowdhary inaugurates Helpline and Counseling Centre
Bhopal: While inaugurating ‘Umang’ Teenager Helpline 14425 and Counseling Centre at R.C.V.P. Noronha Academy of Administration and Management, the Minister for School Education Dr. Prabhuram Chowdhary said that Umang Helpline will redress physical, mental, emotional problems and queries of teenagers. He further mentioned that identity of children will be kept confidential in counseling centers to enable them to speak fearlessly.
Minister Dr. Chaudhary said that by setting up a helpline and counseling centre to prevent teenagers from taking wrong steps in ignorance, the state government has encouraged an innovation. The ‘Umang’ helpline 14425 will function continuously. He said that apart from one state level counseling centre, counseling centers have been set up in 313 blocks. Sixteen to 20 calls will be attended at the same time at these centres. The counseling centers will work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A total of 626 consultants have been appointed in proportion of 2 consultants in each centre. These centers will give advice to the children of 9228 high school and higher secondary schools.
Over 38 lakh teenagers and parents to be benefitted
The Principal Secretary Smt. Rashmi Arun Shami informed that ‘Umang’ Helpline and Counseling Centers will be operated with the help of Health, Women and Child Development, Police and Justice Department. The Helpline and Couseling Centers will help over 38 lakh teenagers and their parents in redressing problems.
Helpline and Counseling Centers are based on principles of World Health Organisation
The Commissioner School Education Smt. Jaishree Kiyawat said that the module of Helpline and Counseling Centre has been prepared, keeping in view the 10 life skills laid down by the World Health Organisation. She said that the Helpline and Counseling Centers have been established with the cooperation of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, UNFTA, Bhartiya Gramin Mahila Sangh, Indore and REC Foundation. A separate guideline has been created for all teenager boys and girls of Class 9th to 12th.
Guide, Flip Book and Success Stories Released
The Minister for School Education Dr. Chowdhary released Umang Counseling Skill Training Guide, Flip Book and success stories for class 12th teenagers on the occasion. Resident Representative for UNFPA India, New Delhi Sushri Argentina Matavel Piccin also addressed the programme.
Specialty of Counseling Centers
The State Programme Coordinator, UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) Dr. Nilesh Deshpande through PPT explained that high technology has been used in ‘Umang’ teenager helpline and counseling centers. The land line number is mapped in this. Monthly reports can be made by recording data related information. Live chat can be done with the client and counseling can also be done by email. It will also have record that how many calls are attended by the consultant and how much time he/she took. Moreover, it will keep the record of age, gender, location, type of call etc. he added.
Consulting Experts
One female and one male consultant have been appointed in block level counseling centers, who have gone through psychometric test by the specialists. Consultants were given 10 day-training at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Along with this, they were also trained by the subject experts. Six months training will be imparted to all the consultants. Weekly mock sessions will also be conducted. Provision of psycho therapy and relaxation zone at working place for consultants has been made and there is no time limit for speaking over phone. The consultants will give advice on mental and physical changes, mental health, addiction, non-contagious diseases, emotional problems, nutrition, academic and career advice, mutual relations and preventing suicide etc.