The India Post, Chandigarh, 2nd September, 2008 :Today a Training programme was organized for Peace Club incharge Teachers from DAV Schools by Yuvsatta & KB DAV Sr. Sec. School, Sector 7, Chandigarh. Around 50 DAV Teachers & students from nine different cities of Amritsar, Malerkotla, Nangal, Derrabassi, Ambala, Surajpur, Panchkula, SAS Nagar & Chandigarh participated in the same.
Welcoming the participants Mrs. Madhu Bahl, Principal & Regional Director of 11 DAV Schools said that "In this age of preoccupation with global violence, terrorism and homicides, we often ignore the fact that worldwide more people kill themselves than die in all wars, terrorist acts and interpersonal violence combined. More than a million people worldwide die by suicide each year. She further shared recent findings of National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), which states that more adolescents die in India of suicide than of AIDS, cancer, heart disease, obesity, birth defects and lung disease. In 2006-7 alone 5,857 students took their life, which works out to a stunning 16 suicides a day. And in an era of unending race of materialism and unprecedented parents expectations India is topping the world in teen suicides.
So, this year the Peace Clubs of 15 DAV Schools which participated in this programme will observe September 10 "World Suicide Prevention Day" with week long programs that build adolescents’ self-esteem and inspire a sense of inclusion in society rather than alienation from it. The objective of these events will be to celebrate life, to create awareness of suicide as an issue where solutions can be identified at the community level; to encourage teamwork within communities, to distress students and launch a media campaign for youth not to give up.
Dr. Satinder Dhillon, Chief Guest of the day and Convener of Campaign for Peace-city Chandigarh
said that off late crisis in values has become an international issue affecting all people regardless of religion, economic strength or political orientation. And Peace Clubs in Schools can play a very pivotal role in inculcating values. And Teachers can meet such challenges through education in values and its constant practice in their daily life and profession.
A documentary film ‘A Force More Powerful’ showing efficacy of Gandhian way of nonviolence around the world was also shown on the occasion.
Prominent amongst those who addressed the participants included Prof. Anil Sarwal, Mrs. Poonam Singh, Editor, Preetlari, Ms. Vandana Shukla, Sr. Journalist, S. Harjinder Singh Talwar and peace activist Mr. Parmod Sharma, Coordinator of Yuvsatta.