ASSAM RIFLES ORGANISES PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING AND CAREER COUNSELLING IN COLLABORATION WITH RASHTRIYA RAKSHA UNIVERSITY, RRU AT DIMA HASAO
A round of 'ethnic conflicts' is not only about killing people and forcing some people - the supposed enemy community - to be chased out.
It is also about mind and mindset !
Experts say ethnic conflicts can cause a range of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
One Assam Rifles medical officer in informal chat during a chance interaction at Guwahati also maintained that people who experience discrimination or violence based on their ethnicity often experience aggression, stress, and suicidal thoughts.
Hence, one could discover that in its sustained efforts through educational outreach programmes, the Assam Rifles organised a career counselling, psychological screening and educational intervention programme for some 'victims' of 2023 conflicts in Manipur.
The 'noble work' was carried out in coordination with the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), Gandhinagar.
The initiative was undertaken at Haflong in the erstwhile North Cachar Hills (now better known as Dima Hasao district), Assam on 17-18 Jan 2025.
During the two day programme, the delegation from RRU led by Dr Mahesh Tripathi, Director of School of Behavioural Sciences and Forensics interacted with the young students to understand their latent personalities and motivate them to pursue higher education.
I was told that the team carried out "psychological screening and career counselling" during which they identified markers of radicalisation due to ethnic displacement, communal harassment and lack of education amongst the underprivileged students of Dima Hasao.
A positive outcome of the program was shortlisting of two students for fully funded bachelor’s degree at RRU post completion of class 12th, a source said.
The programme is in line with the intiatives taken by Assam Rifles to spread awareness about the importance of education amongst youth and collaborate with reputed universities to assist in admission for higher level courses.
It is also learnt that the experts/delegation will further carry out discussions on patenting technological prototypes developed in Manipur by Assam Rifles.
This initiative fosters Assam Rifles' commitment in community outreach and underscores its role in fostering de-radicalization, earning national recognition and strengthening future partnerships with RRU.
Why handling mental health becomes crucial but is probably neglected as ground throw up other more pressing challenges - like food, clothing, shelter and education and health ?
But the fact of the matter is the 'dysfunction' caused by ethnic conflicts can last for years after the conflict and can decrease productivity.
Discrimination can impact interpersonal relations.
Some one-liners and quotes which would only strengthen our argument about the importance of 'de-radicalisation' of young minds especially after any ethnic and communal conflict !!
"War trauma leaves physical mark";
"War is hell... it has an impact on the people who take part that never heals";
"A generation has grown up knowing only war".
ends
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