Ganderbal, June 8: School of Social Sciences in collaboration with Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the Central University of Kashmir (CUK), organised a special extension online lecture by trainer and educationist, Dr Kanchan Negi on "Dealing with Stress, Enhancing Personality and Life Skills Management" here on Tuesday.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Dean School of Social Sciences, Prof. Hamidullah Marazi, Director IQAC, Prof. Wali Muhammad Shah, Coordinator Department of Politics and Governance, Dr Khalid Waseem Hassan, faculty members, scholars, students and other staff members participated in the lecture.

In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir thanked the speaker for enlightening the students and the faculty members with an insightful lecture. In his agreement with the speaker, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir also pointed out the need to conduct more such programmes in the university which will help de-stress the students as they have been confined to their respective homes following successive lockdowns. He further asked the students to undertake extracurricular activities after their studies.

In her lecture, Dr Kanchan Negi discussed in detail the various forms of stress which people in general and students, in particular, are going through since the outbreak of pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. She pointed out that all individuals are different and the nature of stress which they experience vary from one person to another

She said that there is a dire need to have counselling sessions with the trained experts who can interact with the students in a cordial manner. 

Dr Kanchan Negi pointed out that in contemporary times one of the major reasons for stress for students is not only the workload of classes and examinations but the worries about career choices. “There is a lot of pressure from the society and the parents on the students to face the competitions and take up the limited career options in medical, engineering and other professional courses.” 

In this manner, Dr Negi said, “we are doing injustice to them". She opined that the parents and teachers should support the career options of students and respect their inborn and hidden talents. The best way to handle stress, according to her, is motivation. She also talked about the role of teachers at school, college and at the university level. It is not only the various forms of exercises that will help the students to cope with the stress, but one has to learn various life skills. Among the various skills, it is communication that is going to help the students in the achievement of their long term goals.

Addressing the participants, Registrar, Prof. M. Afzal Zargar pointed out the need to develop a mechanism where students can talk freely about their problems, issues and grievances which they face continuously. He further said that it is resilience that helps people in general and students, in particular, to deal with stress.

In his remarks, Dean School of Social Sciences, Prof. Hamidullah Marazi underscored the need of organizing such lectures for the students and the research scholars in the present crisis of pandemic. He also welcomed the speaker, dignitaries from the university and guests from outside the university.

Dr Khalid Wasim Hassan, conducted the programme proceedings while Prof Wali Muhammad Shah proposed the vote of thanks.