| New Delhi, March 24, 2010: Understanding the need of the victims of Child Labour, a training workshop was organized in Bal Ashram by noted psychiatrist Dr. Samir Parikh and his team. Titled ‘Training on Counselling’ the workshop was aimed at teaching activists the means and ways to counsel rescued bonded child labourers who are rehabilitated at Bal Ashram.
The one day interactive session was extremely advantageous for grassroot activists of neighbouring Bal Mitra Grams (BMGs) and Bal Ashram employees who have a direct involvement with children. The children were divided into two groups depending on the age, 6-11 years and 11-15 years for better understanding of their problems. They were enquired about past occupations, educational levels, hobbies and fears. The children shared their insecurities, phobias and motivations in great deal and unburdened themselves. The activists also had a discourse about the common problems they suffer in the first fortnight after the kids are brought to the centre.
In this maiden session, the psychologists suggested means to measure stress levels in the staff. This would lead to self management mechanism. They also made peer moderators amongst children. Parvesh, Viru, Arvind, Dinesh, Shubham and Lalit will monitor the issues which lead to arguments and fights between children. The reports, in the form of personal letters would be sent to the psychologists every fifteen days. After a detailed report on the causes and effects of stress related outbursts, a comprehensive strategy would be designed to counsel the students.
Dr. Parikh said, “Based on our first workshop, we concluded that children here have problems in concentrating and memorizing. They are under constant mental agony and turmoil owing to experiences from past and restlessness about future. Even the staff was found to have repressed anger which has to be channelized properly. The feedback from the kids over a period of 3 months would better inform us about their problems and in our next session, we can take up their disorders”. |
