SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: The people, male and female, who are sent to quarantine centres after being detected to have developed symptoms of COVID-19, face the consequential stresses and strains in many cases and become repulsive and revolting, creating an uneasy situation. The district administration of Cachar has taken a novel initiative to provide 'psychological support to quarantined people' and their families with the launch of project 'Aastha' on Tuesday. The project was launched in the premises of Maharshi Vidya Mandir located at Kathal Road of this town through a ceremonial programme by the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, Keerthi Jalli, IAS.
The Deputy Commissioner said, "Often the quarantined persons face stresses, strains and anxiety among others and create uneasy situation at the centres. The parents and guardians too face similar problem at homes. Keeping all these issues in mind, we have decided to take the help of the Department of Psychiatry, Silchar Medical College and Hospital to extend psychological support and counselling to them." This is considered necessary in view of the certain disturbing reports from some quarantine centres of Barak Valley and the state. This initiative of the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar has come in for high appreciation from the civil society.
On this occasion were present Sumit Sattawan IAS, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dr S J Das, Joint Director of Health Services, Dr Presenjit Ghose, psychiatrist, Dr Dipankar Chakraborty, DNO, NMHP, Dr Ajit Bhattacharjee, DSO and other officials of the health department. Relevant to say Rahul Ghosh, DPM, NHM, has designed the project. There is another initiative called 'Manan' which focuses on tele-counselling to the psychologically disturbed quarantined persons. This is being implemented by the State government through 104.