Regardless of a distressing improve within the variety of suicides amongst college students, the town of Kota in Rajasthan, is grappling with a extreme scarcity of scientific psychologists. This scarcity poses a big problem in addressing the psychological well being points confronted by roughly 250,000 teaching college students who’re making ready for entrance exams whereas dwelling away from residence.
A psychological counseling centre was established in September of this yr throughout the New Medical Faculty Hospital (NMCH) in Kota, according to the state authorities’s finances allocation. Nonetheless, the middle presently lacks the presence of any scientific psychologists. Whereas one scientific psychologist has been appointed at NMCH, the demand for at the very least 5 professionals stays unmet, and there may be additionally a scarcity of adequately skilled workers.
The shortage of M Phil applications in scientific psychology throughout the state’s medical faculties has additional exacerbated the difficulty. The few people serving in authorities medical faculties in Rajasthan maintain levels from different states and fall wanting assembly the demand.
Dr. Vinod Kumar Daria, a professor within the Division of Psychology at NMCH, shared that he had submitted a proposal for an M Phil course in scientific psychology to the state authorities in January of final yr. The proposal was accepted, resulting in the announcement of the Psychological Counseling Middle, which was meant to be staffed with expert scientific psychologists. Nonetheless, the graduation of the M Phil course and the appointment of scientific psychologists have but to materialise.
Dr. Daria emphasised the urgent want for scientific psychologists within the state, given the inflow of scholars from throughout the nation, notably in Kota, Sikar, and Jaipur. He famous that the variety of psychological health-related sufferers searching for remedy in authorities medical faculties is adequate to assist the institution of an eight-seat M Phil course in scientific psychology.
Dr. B. S. Shekhawat, the Head of the Division of Psychology and Further Principal on the Authorities Medical Faculty in Kota, acknowledged the acute scarcity of scientific psychologists and professional counselors. Dr. Shekhawat revealed that he had requested the appointment of scientific psychologists and counselors; nonetheless, no appointments have been made so far.
Whereas there are reportedly three to 4 scientific psychologists within the non-public sector, together with a pair working for outstanding teaching establishments, the quantity stays inadequate to satisfy the rising demand.
Dr. Harish Sharma, the principal psychologist at one of many teaching giants in Kota, shared that his group of 96 counselors, supported by two scientific psychologists, is offering psychological counseling and remedy to college students at varied facilities throughout the town.
The Principal Secretary of Medical Training, T Ravikant, didn’t reply to requests for remark concerning the standing of the proposal for the M Phil course and the requirement for scientific psychologists within the state.
The scarcity of scientific psychologists in Kota is a matter of grave concern, notably because the variety of pupil suicides rises. Efforts to handle this problem should be prioritized to make sure the psychological well-being of the teaching college students and provide them the assist they desperately want.
(With inputs from PTI)
