How well do you know your State?

Knowledge of the socio-political and economic aspects of the state from where you hail is important when you attend the interview. Last in the series on the Civil Services Examination.

The civil services exam interview conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) focuses on the personal details of the candidates including the home town, district and State. The last decade had witnessed an exponential increase in the number of successful candidates hailing from Tamil Nadu in this exam making the last one and a half decades the golden era of Tamil Nadu in the civil services exam. The State sends about one seventh of the candidates to the personality test, and a staggering number of 25,000 candidates attend the preliminary test annually. The interview panel focuses on the society, politics, economy, culture and paramount personalities of the State in the interview of candidates from this state.

Urbanisation

Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised-state among the larger States of the country with about 48.45 per cent of the people domiciled in urban landscape as per the census of 2011. The decadal increase in the urban population of the State was an impressive 4.41 per cent. The interview panel had asked frequently about the forces and factors that are adducible for this remarkable transition. There are a plethora of factors rooted in social, economic and educational planks through which this trend can be explained.

The colonial legacy of Madras metropolis as a kind of capital of peninsular India, tremendous growth and diversification especially in the post liberalisation period, privatisation and concomitant expansion of educational institutions, implementation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act and the resultant incorporation of adjoining and adjacent villages into ever expanding municipal corporations and municipal councils and the presence of numerous census towns are the assorted factors that propel this frantic pace of urbanisation in the State.

Automobile industry

The panel fires a fusillade of questions on the different dimensions of the economy of Tamil Nadu. When we analyse the economic landscape of Chennai city, the automobile industry is very conspicuous by its presence making it the automobile capital of south Asia, manufacturing everything from B to B, that is, Bicycles to Battle tanks — everything that moves or carries is manufactured in the city. The panel tends to ask in detail about these economic aspects and therefore the aspirants of the civil services exam should prepare thoroughly. A comprehensive preparation on this subject will cover factors like the long history of strong engineering base in the city, investment friendly political dispensation, availability of skilled manpower, excellent infrastructure, cost effectiveness of land, labour, power and other resources. Candidates studying in or hailing from Chennai must understand profoundly issues, legacies, uniqueness, advantages and disadvantages of the city as there is a greater probability of the interview panel posing probing questions.

Film and politics

One of the unique dimensions of politics in Tamil Nadu is the intrinsic and intimate rapport between politics and cinema with as many as five chief ministers hailing from a cinema background. The interview board in the past had enquired repeatedly on this trend and the plethora of questions asked include how did this relationship evolve historically? Why did this dominance of films in politics emerge? Who are the cinematic stalwarts who became successful in politics and who failed to make a mark? What impact films made on politics and what impact politics made on cinema?.

Candidates can say cinema provided film personalities an opening in politics. But there are other social, political, administrative and personality factors which enabled domination of politics. Cinematic popularity is not the single thread of the fabric of political success as other strands and threads are also important.

Strategic suggestions

Candidates must answer the questions about Tamil Nadu through the prism of national perspective as they are competing in the recruitment test intended to select officers for All India Services and Central Services.

Interviewees can defend their State-level interests through logical and impassioned reasoning that seek simultaneous national and regional betterment.

They need not betray the legitimate interest of their respective States, and their answers and arguments should be always underpinned by the basic features and objectives of the constitution of India.

Aspirants must possess sufficient knowledge of topics pertaining to the home State. The syllabus of the preliminary test and main exam of civil services do not contain all aspects of society, politics , economy, culture and architecture of Tamil Nadu as it is a national competitive exam where it is not plausible to cover the basics and specifics of all 28 individual States of the Indian union.

Candidates would not have studied these aspects as part of their preparation for the preliminary test and main exam.

Therefore the candidates must devote considerable amount of time, energy and attention on Tamil Nadu-specific issues and the three months interregnum between the main test and personality test is ideally suitable for such an intensive preparation.

Contestants must also cultivate diverse soft skills falling under both interpersonal and intrapersonal categories. They must focus on the cultivation of English communicative skills as there is a deficit of effective and fluent communication in the personality of students hailing from semi-urban and rural landscape or a socially underprivileged background.

New shores, New beginnings

Worried traditional destinations for studying abroad are getting costlier? Cheer up! Here are some alternatives.

The rising cost of education in the West combined with the falling rupee has meant that traditional destinations for students intending to study abroad are getting increasingly unaffordable. However, new destinations have emerged for those seeking a reasonably priced international education.

Some of these are Asian countries, such as China and Hong Kong, which have become competitive education providers in recent years and figure in the top 50 of the Times Higher Education ranking and the QS World Universities ranking. Others, like Dubai have succeeded in getting reputed international universities establish their offshore campuses. Apart from academic merit and affordable fee structures, relatively easy admission systems, good facilities, and in some instances, attractive job opportunities are some of the factors that have attracted Indian students to these destinations.

CHINA

According to a report by the Ministry of External Affairs, the last few years have seen a significant increase in the number of Indian students choosing to study in China. While in January 2012 there were over 8,000 Indian students studying in various Chinese universities, in 2013, this number increased to 9,200 — 15 per cent more. Garima Arora, the China consultant at the India-China Economic and Cultural Council, corroborates, “There are thousands of Indian students studying in provinces across China today. Most of them are pursuing medicine.”

Yatindra Joshi, who recently completed his MBBS from the Chonquing Medical University in China, says, Pursuing medical education in India these days is becoming difficult for most students. China, on the other hand, offers admission based on Class XII results and a much better academic environment at a far lower cost. There is an emphasis on research and an excellent faculty. In fact one of my professors was a Nobel prize winner.”

While most courses for international students are offered in English, it is advisable for students to be open to learning the local language. Says Joshi, “International students have to take a Chinese language course in the first academic year. This familiarises you with the language and helps you with your day-to-day living, because most locals do not speak English. It also helps you in making friends, as you can communicate better. Moreover, for medical students it is absolutely important as we have to talk to local patients in the course of our studies.”

Also, unlike traditional destinations, China does not offer any extension on the student visa. If students wish to stay back after completing their studies and take up a job, they have to clear a language examination before securing a job permit.

Average cost of living per annum (including tuition fees, accommodation, food and travel): About Rs. 2.5 lakh.

For more information: Contact the India China Economic and Cultural Council (www.icec-council.org) and check the website of the Chinese embassy (in.china-embassy.org).

HONG KONG

With world class institutions that have excellent rankings, Hong Kong has, in recent years, emerged as one of Asia’s leading higher education destinations.

Moreover, its cosmopolitan character that blends both Chinese and Western cultures provides students a truly international experience.

Indians make up a major chunk of the non-Chinese community in Hong Kong, and its universities have a good number of local as well as non-local Indian students. Education consultant Viral Doshi reports an increasing interest in studying in Hong Kong in the recent years.

While a number of students are interested in finance-related courses, humanities is also gaining importance.

Lucrative job opportunities are a major draw for students. Says Saloni Atal, an undergraduate student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), “Job opportunities for students in HK are quite promising because HK is one of the largest financial centres of the world.

HKU has a career centre which sends out notifications to all students about job offers on a daily basis and also organises sessions to help prepare students for job interviews. Several reputed companies hire students from HKU every year.”

Students can avail themselves of a year-long extension on their student visa after completing their studies to search for and take up jobs in Hong Kong.

For more information: http://studyinhongkong.edu.hk/

RUSSIA

Much like China, Russia is a sought-after destination for students keen on pursuing medical education. Popular Russian medical colleges, such as the Tver State Medical Academy, have hundreds of Indian students enrolled in them. The reasons are the same — ease of admission, excellent academic infrastructure and lower cost of education.

Dushyant Singhal spent eight years in Russia, completing both his undergraduate and postgraduate medical education from the Russian State Medical University, now known as the Russian National Research Medical University (RNRMU) in Moscow. He says, “RNRMU is one of the oldest medical schools in Russia and is well known among the medical fraternity even abroad. I was extremely happy to get admission here and the quality of education is so good that I also decided to complete my postgraduate studies here. In Russia, colleges are extremely well-equipped and students get the best facilities despite paying a lower fee.”

However, like China, even in Russia, students are advised to learn the local language. Singhal says that most universities teach Russian as an additional subject to familiarise students with the language. Tatiana Perova, Head of Russian Language Teaching-Training Centre at Rus Education India, adds, “Although these days many universities are offering courses in English, learning Russian will help the students better appreciate the local culture. They can also choose to take courses in the fine arts, humanities and other such subjects that are only taught in Russian.”

Additionally, Russia does not give any extension on the student visa, and students wanting to stay back and work after completing their studies need to a clear a language examination.

Average cost of living per annum (including tuition fees, accommodation, food and travel): Rs. 2.5 lakh to 3.5 lakh approximately.

For more information: Contact Rus Education (http://www.ruseducation.in/) and also read about education in Russia at www.russia.edu.ru

DUBAI

Home to offshore campuses of leading universities from around the world, including prestigious Indian institutes such as SP Jain and BITS, Dubai has slowly become a coveted international education destination. Most students wanting to study in Dubai are interested in business programmes as well as certain engineering disciplines like logistics, oil and petroleum, renewable energy, etc.

Proximity to India and attractive job opportunities are the other factors that make it a viable option for students keen on pursuing higher education abroad. Ankita Sudhir, who is pursuing M.Sc. Energy at the Dubai campus of the UK-based Heriot Watt University, says, “The quality of teaching is similar to that in the Edinburgh campus of the university. At the same time Dubai is closer home, and it also has more job opportunities compared to the U.K. and its current recession period.”

Education consultants Edwise International adds that academic flexibility is a major attraction for students in Dubai. “The classes are held in such a way that students can easily take up part-time jobs, balance their work with academics, and gain hands-on experience. International students can work part-time for 20 hours a week in free zone areas, once they seek permission from the university.”

Dubai is home to a large Indian population. Knowing the local language is not as important as it is for some of the other destinations. Hence, day-to-day living is somewhat easier for Indian students.

However, the UAE does not offer any extension on the student visa and students wanting to stay back must start looking for jobs before completing their studies to acquire a job permit and stay back.

Average cost of living per annum (including tuition fees, accommodation, food and travel): About Rs.12 lakh.

For more information: There are a number of private education consultants. Apart from that, you could look up the website of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority of the Government of Dubai (www.khda.gov.ae).

GERMANY

For students keen on living the European dream, Germany is an upcoming destination that offers the best of the West at affordable rates. According to a report from the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD), the German Academic Exchange service, the number of Indian students in Germany has increased enormously since 2008-09. From a little over 3,500 students at the time to more than 7,500 students today — it has grown steadily and is predicted to rise further. A majority of students pursue courses in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.

Padmavathi Chandramouli, information and office manager at the DAAD information centre in Chennai, says, “Most universities in Germany are public-funded and either charge no tuition fee or an extremely nominal amount. Also there is no application fee and students only have to pay for the postage. This makes the cost of German education easy on the pocket, as students mainly have to worry about their living expenses.”

Despite this, academic rigour is not sacrificed and a number of German universities figure in the top 100 universities around the world in the Times Higher Education ranking and the QS World Universities ranking. Harita Natarajan, a postgraduate student at the Stuttgard University, says, “The German education system, especially in universities, focuses more on research and development. Industry tie-ups, projects from the German government and many such application-oriented research takes place in the university... (and) we (have) to do many group projects with real time data.”

Students are also enticed by the travel possibilities available to them. Harita reveals, “You get a vacation every semester (and) all it takes is an hour or two ride in the train to reach the neighbouring country.

In the past one-and-a-half years, I’ve travelled to the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Luxembourg and Belgium.”

Also, unlike most other European countries, Germany still has a strong economic environment and students can seek an 18-month extension on their student visa to search for jobs.

Knowing the local language is a definite advantage for students keen on studying in Germany, even though the course may be in English.

Average cost of living per annum (including tuition fees, accommodation, food, and travel): About Rs. 7 lakh.

For more information: Contact the DAAD (www.daaddelhi.org)

Smart students know the way

With the board exams fast approaching, they say that the concept of combined studies not only helps overcome the fear factor but also makes them understand where they stand subject-wise..

More than the actual experience, it is the fear for board exams that makes one feel the stress. Apparently, smart students have a different version!

With the board exams fast approaching, they say that the concept of combined studies not only helps overcome the fear factor but also makes them understand where they stand subject-wise compared to others.

Except a few, most students say combined study is particularly instrumental in easing the anxiety among slow learners.

“Group studies are helpful when you include below average students in the session. By drafting some tips and summarising subject-wise points, we can improve our performance too,” says Sampath Pattjoshi, a hostelite.

Since every student cannot excel in all subjects, group discussions aid in remembering tough topics much better. “For instance, since history is not my area of interest, I find it difficult to recollect different names and places. But, my understanding level enhances when I interact the same topic with my friends,” says Manish, Class X student.

However, for G. Lalitha, a young girl, the idea of combined studies is different. “It distracts me and induces a certain degree of inferiority complex when I discover that my friends are better than me. So, I generally prefer studying alone except during seminar sessions that form part of the academic curriculum,” she says.

Some of the classmates say that the length of time is prolonged when they study alone.

And that combined studies would help them discover beyond classrooms by shedding their inhibitions.

“Many are not comfortable getting their doubts clarified in an open forum. When you are in a comfort zone with friends, you can clarify any doubt without the fear of being laughed at,” explains Shalini Babu, a Class X student.

Studying together leads to better understanding of the subject, however, monitoring mechanism within the group is essential to keep the children on track as most girls end up discussing about fashion, food and school gossips while boys talk about hairstyle trends, sports and internet games, says Vaishali More, a parent-cum-teacher.

That sudden slump

Board examinations are around the corner.  Students are kept busy with their study schedule by vigilant parents. Everyone believes that the career option and the future of the students depend on the result of the Board examination. This mindset leads to an unrealistic study routine. Most students follow a pattern of preparing for examinations, which does not take into consideration their individualistic learning style. This may bring on tremendous stress, either because they are not able to keep up with the gruelling routine, or realise that in spite of studying hard, they are not really learning. They are dejected, disheartened or simply slump. Many a time, even the most motivated learner experiences a slump.

Definition of a slump

So, what is a slump? A slump is an unexplained drop in the tempo of your study routine, which extends beyond the normal ups and downs. Being human, you cannot keep up the tempo of your study routine for a long period of time. You need to deal with it so that you can bounce back to the planned routine with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. In order to do so, you need a few moments to fathom why the slump happened, what its causes are, and how best you can deal with it.

Slump before examinations is one of the worst things that could happen to a student. Quite unfortunately, it happens often. The purpose of this article is to discuss ways to deal with it.

Some students spend a lot of time rehearsing material but are still not well-prepared. They are not confident of taking exams. The feeling of being inadequately prepared is the result of not being able to measure the effort put into their chosen method of studying. If you are not able to recall what you have been learning for days together, then how can you be motivated to go on? Measurement process for a student becomes a good reference point, when he says, ‘Yes, I have learnt’.

Three-phase method

A practical way to prepare for exams is to follow a three-phase method.

Pre-preparatory phase

In this phase, you are ready with the topics you will be tested on. You are aware of what questions will be asked in each area. Do a complete revision of all subjects. Some students do not have a study plan. Each morning they ask, “What should I do today?”  This will hasten the slump. Instead, plan your exam preparation on a visual chart. Make a mind map and then follow what you planned.

Maintenance phase

This phase is crucial. It helps you measure what you have learnt, thus giving you confidence. This phase involves actual application of ideas and strategies through discussions, questions and answers, and solving previous years’ question papers. When you finish studying for the day, end it with an application exercise. You will know how much you have learnt. It will reinforce your knowledge. The next day, start with an application again of what you did yesterday. Form a study group. Discuss questions with one another to understand difficult concepts better.

Peak performance phase

Everyone has a peak level; the optimum level, that is, when you are fully motivated, happens when you phase out the preparatory level. You are motivated to muster energy for the final effort. 

Slump-busting suggestions

It is a fact that slumps are frequent among students and could be dangerous for them. However, it is easy to combat slumps by following a few suggestions that can make a significant improvement in your life.

— A brief time-out. Take a day or two off to do things you want to do.

— Pursue activities that are allied, but different. Meet a friend for coffee and discuss common issues or just be by yourself. The basic idea is that you do not follow your schedule and just relax.

— Keep yourself focussed on what is important. Black out the rest.

— Develop the ability of seeing the success you so much crave for, visualise a successful outcome.

— Have tremendous faith in your ability to perform.

Possible causes

— Physical fatigue or lingering illness.

— Are you trying to adopt a different way of learning?  Maybe the change is causing the slump.

— Are there some non-academic issues? Maybe some unresolved issues are causing you to slow down.

Slump prevention

— Monitor your physical state; “listen to your body”.

— Schedule rest as part of your routine.

— Eat nutritious meals.

— Study what is relevant.

— Build a resiliency plan to combat negative thoughts.

— Introspect, may be unknowingly you are contributing to the slump. Get the focus back on the goal.

Preparing for Board examinations is hard, stressful, and slump is serious. But it is surprising how often the suggestions described can get you on course. Parents need to take note of why slump happens and help their wards in taking the much-needed break to overcome it, instead of mercilessly driving them to a punishing routine.

By 2030, Indian towns may turn dry, stinking hellholes

Dry taps, untreated sewage and piles of solid waste strewn all around. This can become a stark reality of our urban landscape by 2030, when India's urban population will grow from 340 million in 2008 to 590 million - 40 per cent of the total population - and twice the present population of the United States, predicts a report by McKinsey & Company.


But this gloomy picture can be turned around if India invests $1.2 trillion (Rs 54 lakh crore) to keep pace with the growing urbanisation, says the report, India's Urban Awakening: Building Cities, Sustaining Economic Growth, which was released on Thursday.

India's current per capita spending of $17 (Rs 784) on urban infrastructure is just 14 per cent that of China's $116 (Rs 6,030). The report states that if existing services are not improved drastically, the per capita water supply to a average citizen could drop from an average of 105 litres to only 65 litre a day in the next 20 years.

Also, 70-80 per cent of the sewage generated in the country would go untreated, while of the 377 million tonne per annum solid waste that would be generated by 2030, only about 295 million tonne will be collected because of inadequate facilities.

Thirteen cities will have a population of more than four million by 2030 with five states - Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab - likely to be more than 50% urbanised. Also, 70% of India's GDP will come from cities - up from 58% - and drive a near fourfold increase in per capita incomes.

"India's approach to urbanisation is likely to result in urban gridlock and chaos, jeopardising the 7.4% growth rate. India needs to act with urgency for the well being of its citizens and economy," says Ireena Vittal, partner, McKinsey & Company.

Laughter is good exercise for promoting health

Laughter is as good as exercise in promoting health and a sense of well-being, a new study says.


Lee S. Berk, preventive care specialist and researcher at Loma Linda University's Schools of Allied Health (SAHP) and Medicine, and Stanley Tan have come up with the study.

They have been studying the human body's response to mirthful laughter and have found that laughter helps optimise many of the functions of various body systems.

Berk and his colleagues were the first to establish that laughter helps optimise the hormones in the endocrine system, including decreasing the levels of cortisol and epinephrine which lead to stress reduction.

They have also shown that laughter has a positive effect on modulating components of the immune system, including increased production of antibodies and activation of the body's protective cells, including T-cells and especially Natural Killer cells' killing activity of tumour cells.

Their studies have shown that repetitious 'mirthful laughter,' which they call Laughercise, causes the body to respond in a way similar to moderate physical exercise, says a Loma Linda release.

Laughercise enhances your mood, decreases stress hormones, enhances immune activity, lowers bad cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, and raises good cholesterol (HDL).

As Berk explains: 'We are finally starting to realise that our everyday behaviours and emotions are modulating our bodies in many ways.' His latest research expands the role of laughter even further.

Berk along with Jerry Petrofsky at Loma Linda University presented their findings at the Experimental Biology conference in Anaheim, CA.

Air pollution can kill

A growing body of evidence shows that air pollution is linked with heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths.


People, particularly those at high cardiovascular risk, should limit their exposure, says an updated American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement.

The evidence is strongest for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) having a causal relationship to cardiovascular disease, said the expert panel of authors who updated the AHA 2004 initial statement on air pollution.

There are several ways by which PM2.5 could affect the cardiovascular system; however, one leading explanation suggests that several components of PM2.5, once inhaled, can cause inflammation and irritate nerves in the lungs.

These responses can start a cascade of changes that adversely affect the rest of the body, Brook said. 'It's possible that certain very small particles, or chemicals that travel with them, may reach the circulation and cause direct harm,' said Robert D. Brook, associate professor of internal medicine University of Michigan (U-M), Ann Arbor.

'The lung nerve-fibre irritation can also disrupt the balance of the nervous system throughout the body. These responses can increase blood clotting and thrombosis..., elevate blood pressure, and disrupt proper cardiac electrical activity which may ultimately provoke heart attacks, strokes, or even death,' said Brooks.

The major source of PM2.5 is fossil fuel combustion from industry, traffic, and power generation. Biomass burning, heating, cooking, indoor activities and forest fires may also be relevant sources, particularly in certain regions.

'Particulate matter appears to directly increase risk by triggering events in susceptible individuals within hours to days of an increased level of exposure, even among those who otherwise may have been healthy for years,' said Brook, lead author of the statement.

It was written after review of epidemiological, molecular and toxicological studies published during the past six years.

'Growing evidence also shows that longer-term PM2.5 exposures, such as over a few years, can lead to an even larger increase in these health risks,' said Brooks.

'The foremost message for these high-risk groups remains that they should work to control their modifiable traditional risk factors - blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking,' said Brook, associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan (U-M), Ann Arbor.

'These studies also indicate that there is no 'safe' level of PM2.5 exposure,' he said, according to an U-M release.

Recommendations include: Physicians should emphasise treatment of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, which may lessen patients' susceptibility to air pollution. Patients with cardiovascular disease should be educated about the risks of air pollution.

These findings were also published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association

‘Parents, do not panic’

Parents of Murali (name changed) ‘booked’ an engineering seat in the management quota just after his half-yearly examination. The stream and college was decided by Murali’s father.

This was in spite of the fact that Murali was a very good student who had 100 per cent chance of getting a seat in the single-window counselling of Anna University.

Once the booking was done, the pressure mounted on Murali to get very high marks because he had to meet the college’s cut-off, failing which the capitation fee would be hiked.

By the end of the examination he was a nervous wreck and could not come out of it even after he joined college.

A good student, Murali failed in all the papers in the first semester and the same continued in the second semester too, till his father was forced to discontinue his engineering studies and admit him in an arts and science college.

For educationists and counsellors, these are everyday cases, some borderline and others severe.

Single window engineering admission in Tamil Nadu is now an established case of many seats and a few takers. Educationists say that every student who applies for an engineering seat is assured of one.

Yet, the clamour for a preferred course and a college makes parents put undue influence on their wards to go after that particular course and college.

R. Hemambika, psychotherapist and counsellor, who works mainly with school and college students, says the situation is very bad.

“Parents are the main culprits. The future of their child is not based on his interest and aptitude, but on their own prestige, ego and social compulsions. Their main aim is to show to their relatives or neighbours that their son / daughter is an engineer or a doctor,” she adds.

“CA, designing, Defence, dance/music, photography, besides others, are very popular among the higher secondary students, but unfortunately not among parents,” she says.

E. Balagurusamy, former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, says that though parents are to be blamed, the system is also part of this.

The examination and evaluation system is based on rote that a student who scores every high marks in Plus-Two is not able to manage a pass in the first semester of engineering or medicine.

It has become worse with the Samacheer Kalvi system where students are awarded 200 out of 200 marks in subjects and even in languages,” he adds.

He says if the Government regulates the admission to management quota seats, much of the pressure on students will be reduced. Private colleges will only be keen to get as many numbers as possible because the competition is great.

Students will be able to study and write their final examinations peacefully if the management quota admissions are entertained after the Plus-Two examinations, he adds.

It is time to tackle examination stress, in students and parents too

Everything seemed to be falling in place for a 17-year-old girl from the city who was about to take her Plus-Two public examinations in a couple of weeks.

Teachers always had high regard for her and she was good at her studies. Her father had already secured her a seat in a private medical college by paying a huge capitation fee. She had no reasons to worry. Yet she decided to quit school and apply as a private candidate through National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

The reason- she could not stand the pressure from her parents to perform well and fell into a depression. The incident came to light when officials of School Education Department - whose nod was mandatory for issuing Transfer Certificates – made an enquiry with her parents. A senior official here says that this is the second such instance in the past few weeks. Earlier if it was schools, which put pressure on students to keep up its name, now the role of parents in pressurising students is on the rise.

State Nodal Officer for District Mental Health Programme, C. Ramasubramanian, says there is a steep rise in psychological problems among school students. Children were becoming victims to imaginative desires of parents. “For most parents now, the only goal is to earn money and indirectly they perceive their children as a money making machine. Parents disregard other merits like emotional intelligence which includes compassion, sharing and problem solving,” the doctor says.Dr. Ramasubramanian, who has been in the field of psychiatry for over four decades, cautions parents against providing both “reckless freedom and restricted freedom” to children and advocates the need for “reasonable freedom.” Parents must invest quality time in children and just not money, he adds.

S. Arulvadivu, the SCERT psychologist for Coimbatore, Tirupur and the Nilgiris districts, says she comes across students who forget all answers on just seeing the question paper. Some had complained of feeling drowsy while many were just plain scared at the prospect of taking the public examinations.

In many cases, students find out that they do not know the answer for the first question, then become nervous and waste nearly an hour trying to recall the answer before moving on to other questions. She advises students to thoroughly go over the question paper at least twice before starting the answers.

She counsels around 300 Government school students per day and comes across students in fragile mental state and some even with suicidal tendencies. In such cases, she says that the teachers are instructed to continue motivating the student.

In a bid to tackle this issue, State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has appointed mobile counselling psychologists across the state to help students improve academic performance and handle stress.