The choice before Roshni Singh, 19, a BCom I student, after the family suffered financial losses, was to continue her education or support her three siblings in school. “Being the eldest, I decided to sacrifice mine,” she said.
As her father’s income from a small shop froze due to the pandemic, BA III student Anamika Gupta, 20, has decided to drop out of college for a year.
Financial crisis and fear of catching infection also forced BBA III student Harish Yadav, 21, to drop out.
Lucknow: The economic ripples of Covid-19 and the trepidation triggered by the pandemic have forced some learners to drop out of college at least for a year, with vulnerable population among low-income families being hit the hardest. This came to the fore in a survey-cum-study on “Covid-19 pandemic impact on youth psychology’ conducted under a tele-counselling program — Muskurayega India — in 75 districts of UP by National Service Scheme, higher education department and Unicef.
About 1,123 callers in the 19-25 age group were surveyed by 250 counsellors.
64% of all the respondents said they were facing such issues for the first time in life after Covid-19 outbreak, while 8% statedissues existed earlier also, but things deteriorated during the pandemic and 28% said problems continue as before. Counsellors told TOI that among those (37%) facing education issues, prime concern was uncertainty regarding future/career. Some felt postponement of exams/entrance tests will jeopardise their careers, others said the loss of family income has left them in the lurch. A few had also developed fear of contracting infection if they moved out for work or studies even if issues are resolved. The main worry of students from economically weaker backgrounds was payment of fees after the breadwinner either lost job or income dropped due to lockdown.
“All this has taken a toll on the mental health of the youth, leading to stress and depression,” said Anshumali Sharma, UP NSS liaison officer.
“We have decided to continue the programme even after Covid-19 crisis is over and soon provide names and numbers of counsellors in our app for the benefit of students,” he added.
Dr Sandhya Dwivedi, an NSS counsellor in Firozabad, said “Several students from rural and poor families from across UP said that they have no other option but to drop out for a year from the college as they cannot pay fees or even recharge mobile phones daily for online classes. We persuade them not to drop out and help with study material, besides suggesting taking a part-time employment like tuitions to support their education.”
As her father’s income from a small shop froze due to the pandemic, BA III student Anamika Gupta, 20, has decided to drop out of college for a year.
Financial crisis and fear of catching infection also forced BBA III student Harish Yadav, 21, to drop out.
Lucknow: The economic ripples of Covid-19 and the trepidation triggered by the pandemic have forced some learners to drop out of college at least for a year, with vulnerable population among low-income families being hit the hardest. This came to the fore in a survey-cum-study on “Covid-19 pandemic impact on youth psychology’ conducted under a tele-counselling program — Muskurayega India — in 75 districts of UP by National Service Scheme, higher education department and Unicef.
About 1,123 callers in the 19-25 age group were surveyed by 250 counsellors.
64% of all the respondents said they were facing such issues for the first time in life after Covid-19 outbreak, while 8% statedissues existed earlier also, but things deteriorated during the pandemic and 28% said problems continue as before. Counsellors told TOI that among those (37%) facing education issues, prime concern was uncertainty regarding future/career. Some felt postponement of exams/entrance tests will jeopardise their careers, others said the loss of family income has left them in the lurch. A few had also developed fear of contracting infection if they moved out for work or studies even if issues are resolved. The main worry of students from economically weaker backgrounds was payment of fees after the breadwinner either lost job or income dropped due to lockdown.
“All this has taken a toll on the mental health of the youth, leading to stress and depression,” said Anshumali Sharma, UP NSS liaison officer.
“We have decided to continue the programme even after Covid-19 crisis is over and soon provide names and numbers of counsellors in our app for the benefit of students,” he added.
Dr Sandhya Dwivedi, an NSS counsellor in Firozabad, said “Several students from rural and poor families from across UP said that they have no other option but to drop out for a year from the college as they cannot pay fees or even recharge mobile phones daily for online classes. We persuade them not to drop out and help with study material, besides suggesting taking a part-time employment like tuitions to support their education.”