NEISSR first national webinar discusses concern of COVID-19 pandemic
Dimapur, August 11 (MExN): North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) in collaboration with Peace Channel, Dimapur hosted its first national webinar on August 9. Dr Fr CP Anto, Principal, NEISSR and Director Peace Channel Dimapur, introduced the two speakers Prof Subhabrata Dutta and Dr Aditi Nath from Silchar University Assam.
A press release stated here that in his opening remark, Fr Anto drew a brief sketch of COVID-19 situations of Nagaland while flag off the issues related to stigma, discrimination and rejection faced by the COVID-19 positive persons and frontline workers as against the much projected pictures of recovery rates and success stories in the mainstream media.
He observed that fear and apprehensions about the pandemic were apparently doing more harm that what actually things are.
Drawing from his own experiences of responding to COVID situation with many CSOs/NGOs and health professionals in the state, he said that many people hide from disclosing their health situation for the fear of stigma and discrimination leading to uncontrolled spread of the virus in the state. In this he hopes religious institutions and social organizations can do a lot assuaging the fears in the minds of the people by demonstrative works.
Prof Shubhabrata Dutta spoke about “COVID-19 affected communities: Scope of improvement and Social Work interventions”. Prof Dutta a brief report on the COVID-19 and Lockdown situation in India which made large segment of society suddenly dependent to the state and increased the vulnerability of daily wage labourers, migrants, maid-servants and individuals working in several companies. Focusing on the COVID-19 situation in the rural areas bearing major brunt of the lockdown imposed since March 25 he highlighted the predicaments of the hordes of migrants returning homes in those rural areas without realizing that they were also bringing back the virus worsening of the socio-economic situation.
While the lockdown affected in three broad areas of activities in rural areas namely; Agriculture and allied activities, local non-farm sectors and rural-urban migration. He also mentioned about impacts on Agriculture Sector (Harvesting Issues & High rent of agri-machines), Microfinance & SHGs (Issues of Field staffs) and Rural Enterprises (value chain, the supply side and the demand side).
Prof. Dutta also spoke about COVID-19 and the situation in urban slums where he observed the virus has disproportionately spread by late June. In the specific situation of Mumbai slums he stated 96% COVID-19 containment zones were in slums which is home to more than 12 million people. This has made any efforts to controlling the spread of the disease in slums as critical to the nation’s pandemic response. He further emphasised on social work during COVID-19 and how to support and extend the relief by preparing COVID-19 data with rural-urban divide study on livelihood and location Resource Mapping, Creating Linkages (Rural Producers and buyers), Psycho-social counseling and by extending support to implement MGNREGA & PM GaribKalyan Yojana. Support to Urban Community in three models communities as recipients, Communities as partners and Communities as owners.
Dr Aditi Nath spoke about a research that she had carried out recently on “Mental Health of students amid COVID-19 pandemic”. Objective of the study were, issues upsetting students and affects of such issues.
Issues of disturbances in students- academic, job prospect, role of media and citizens behavior Aspects of physical health, Social well being- effective communication with others, supportive and well functioning family, supportive network of friends, Encouraging the students to improve their Mental Health by Setting goals, Do what you can, Maintain balance, manage stress level and to seek purpose.
Further some of the activities one can do during the ongoing lockdown period are practice yoga, engage oneself in activities like painting, reading, cooking , gardening, and also to develop essential skills like content writing, critical thinking, self awareness, decision making which will definitely keep one mentally fit. She concluded by adding that one has to pay attention to mental health which includes body, mind and soul.
Participants were students, Scholars, Faculties, Alumni and NGO members from different states of India namely, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Telanganga, Maharastra, and Karnataka.
