Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed for quality mental healthcare. She was addressing the students at the inauguration of Readers’ Circle and ‘Mental Wellness Week’ organised by Student Counselling Services of Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) at Swatantrata Bhawan here on Sunday afternoon.
“We've also improved budgetary provisions for the same,” she said, adding that allocation for mental health increased from Rs 713 crore in the Union Budget 2020-21 to Rs 1,200 crore in 2023-24, which is almost 70 per cent jump in three years. The Union Finance Minister said that mental stress or any kind of stress comes largely from two factors, maniacal competition and public opinion or expectations of people around us. “That’s why one should never feel lonely,” she said, adding that that’s where the role of ‘Sakha’ comes into play just like Draupadi recognised a Sakha in Shri Krishna. “Everyone of us can benefit from a Sakha, a friend,” she said. During her interaction with the students, she said how to deal with self-doubt. “India is the best place in the world right now because it's blooming with many different activities,” she said.
“It can be anybody in a position where they feel left out, not wanted or maybe feel that they don't belong to the position where they've reached,” she said, appealing to the students to never give up as it is a trial for them and they should have to navigate it. “No one can help you, as such. It’s you who has to crack it yourself,” she advised the students.
Sitharaman further said that now the people in India are not just job-doers but they are also job creators. “They are now applying their skills and setting their own paths,” she said, encouraging the students. According to her, the people from the corporate sector tell her that having women on the Board of Directors brings in newer perspectives. “Gender diversity in any organisation brings in quality,”she said, and added that what is required of the women is to be there.
She suggested the students have to be sure that they are not abrasive but are forceful enough to be there. “Push yourself wherever there is an opportunity,” she said while interacting with the students. The IIT (BHU) Director Prof Pramod Kumar Jain and several senior faculty members f IIT (BHU) and BHU were also present. Earlier, when Nirmala Sitharaman landed at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, she was given a warm welcome by the senior IIT (BHU) faculty members, local officials and students.
In the beginning, the programme began with deep prajwalan and malyarpan by the FM and other dignitaries. Dr Sukhada welcomed the gathering. Rishabh introduced the Wellness Council followed by the address by IIT(BHU) Director. Prof Jain outlined the history of the student counselling services reminiscing the inauguration by Sri Sri Ravishankar on April 2, 2019 and how it has expanded over a period of time into various councils. He stressed the important measures the institute has taken to address the mental wellness of our students. He mentioned that the institute takes aspects of mental wellness of the students very seriously and an evidence is this week-long celebration of mental wellness whose inaugural session is today.
The vote of thanks was given by Dr V Ramanathan, faculty in-charge of SCS who said how Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya has re-iterated the age old Indian wisdom of ‘ahimsa satyam akrodhah…’ and how these are vital ingredients for maintaining mental wellness. He thanked the Union Minister who is an epitome of the dictum ‘ekam sastram adhiyano na vidya Shastra nishchayam’ meaning how she is an example of a well-read person from wide domains.