MARGAO
A District Level Monitoring Committee meeting chaired by South Goa District Collector, Egna Cleetus, IAS, has decided to form a panel to coordinate with schools, colleges, universities and private coaching centres to do amongst other things adopt uniform mental health policies and display suicide helplines prominently.
The meeting was attended by Director of Higher Education, Bhushan Savaikar, Additional Collector-II, Ramesh Gaonkar, officials from Department of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Health Services, Under Secretary (Law), Technical Education, SDO (Mormugao) and
others.
During the meeting, it was decided to form a committee which will coordinate with schools, colleges, universities, and private coaching centres to adopt uniform mental health policies and ensure appointment or referral linkages with counsellors.
The panel will also establish confidential reporting and redressal systems against ragging and harassment and display suicide helplines prominently. The committee will be given the draft to conduct staff and parental sensitisation programmes; and submit periodic compliance reports to the State government.
The committee resolved to meet at regular intervals to review progress and submit its first compliance report within the stipulated timeline. The district Collector has directed all educational institutions in the district to extend full cooperation to the committee in ensuring timely and effective implementation of the Supreme Court’s guidelines.
