Suicide

No. 24

Shree Ganesh Utsav has began today with Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ganesh at Fiji Sevashram Sangha, Suva and Lautoka Ashram and also at more than 45 venues throughout Fiji. Many devotees are celebrating Ganesh Utsav at their home having small idol of Lord Ganesh. Temples and Mandalis are also celebrating Ganesh Utsav. The Utsav is marked as the Nationwide Celebration of Unit.

While the whole nation is celebrating Ganesh Utsav, recent suicide case of three primary students shook entire nation. Ministry of Education has declared tomorrow Friday 18th, as suicide awareness campaign day for all schools in the country. There will be no classes tomorrow. Children and teachers in all primary and secondary schools will have discussion, talk and presentation on how to stop suicide cases. Students and teachers will try to identify the root problem of our society that forces young children to take their life. People of Fiji, thank Ministry of Education and particularly Hon. Minister for Education Dr. Mahendra Reddy for this initiative and vision.

What should be done to follow up after the awareness campaign in schools? There should be continuous awareness programs through media, social sites, TV. Also ministries together with police, NGO's, religious groups and all other stake holders including business houses should join hands to curb widespread of this problem from our society. Parents who are neglecting and abusing their children should be taken to task.

I am quite confident that if all of us join our hands in this awareness campaign, we shall definitely save untimely death from our society

- Manhar Narsey