This pandemic can be seen in two ways – either as a boon or a curse for people from all walks of life. Waves of woes and plights have crept in- massive unemployment and poverty has resulted in rampant rise of crime rates in every nook and corners of our state, country and in fact, in the entire world, which is very alarming and unfortunate.
The world we are living in, in general, is struggling to get through in every possible way it could. The sad reality, however, is that other states, cities and countries, as a matter of fact, is no exception to this disease that is causing a plague and hovering so darkly around us. But I would specifically centre my discourse in our state solely. Why then? The question arises. Because our state since time immemorial, has held on to the vision statement of “Nagaland for Christ” and this clearly should make the difference to make it stand apart from the rest.
The root cause for the existing chaos, stress and anxiety can be traced back to the theological doctrine being shaken at its core foundation. We have replaced God with our materialism and manmade idols- devoting more time on viewing the fantasies make believe world of the entertainment industry thereby, disillusionment and carnal oblivion enters into the beliefs of our very minds. The diminishing ‘dignity of labour’ is making the major population depending ‘hundred percent’ on the government to feed our hungry and never satisfied mouths (cause for backdoor appointments). We Nagas have literally become a generation driven into the world of business with selfish gain demanding sky rocketing prices which in turn has made consumers prefer non-locals over our own people. Sugar coated lies and wrong doings seem to be cunningly fabricated with silk smoothed term for “to err is human -survival instinct” amongst many today. If I must, then the list should go on.
Amidst all these chaos, I am drawing the focus on the teachers- teachers particularly of the private sector stands apart from all of the above. I implore upon the educational institutions and the administrative heads to kindly do a genuine recheck on the current system and policies of how you are dealing with the educators employed under you. That of the mental and physical well being of the teachers be compromised and neglected at all cost just for the sake of your institutions and to meet your demands? Something somewhere along the system has failed us – the teachers. We the teachers are heavily drained both mentally and emotionally, the workload has become unlimited and never ending with any fixed timings for dealing with children because they need to be individually reached out. When there is no online classes, the student’s assignments are checked alongside preparations (lesson plans) for the next class. The increased time spent on screen is causing severe multiple health effects such as irregular sleeping pattern which results in other grave menaces. Work and only work has become our routine and it has led to mental breakdown, anxiety, stress and depression.
It is a sincere request upon the educational institutions to consider us teachers as humans too and kindly consider our plights on humanitarian ground. I write this not as a lame excuse from my professional obligations or to validate my own personal problems but as a representation of the teachers’ cause and thereby, invite a clarion call to all that it is time to give importance to teachers’ mental health issue as well.
C. Asen jamir