MCM to set up counselling cell

CHANDIGARH: The recent suicide by 20-year-old Geetanjali, a student of BA III seems to have left an indelible effect on her college - MCM DAV.
The incident has prompted the college authorities into setting up a help centre named the "Geetanjali Cell". The cell aims at providing counselling to those students who may want to discuss their personal problems.
"The students are still in shock because of the incident.Though Geetanjali choose to end her life compelled by family circumstances, we feel that something needs to be done to help such students," remarked principal of the Puneet Bedi.
Geetanjali''s body was fished out of Sukhana Lake on February 22 after she committed suicide. She entered into a love marriage against the wishes of her family and had practically cut off all contact with her parents.
In fact, one of the professors at the college had also called Geetanjali''s mother and told her that that Geetanjali appeared to be quite depressed.
"If a girl feels lonely and she has no one to turn to at the time she can avail the services of the cell," said Bedi emphasising that since students spend a large amount of their time in college, such a facility would help.
The cell would have counsellors from the college faculty as well as guest faculty. A placement officer would also be a part of the team as many students are under immense pressure vis-a-vis their future jobs.
"Primarily the problems revolve around a few specific issues. These include monetary problems, marital discord, parental no to a partner of their choice and landing a decent job. All these problems definitely have an answer. That''s what we want to put across to the students," added Bedi.
Counselling of the parents too would be a part of the exercise to familiarise them with the problems faced by their children.