Would these youngsters in Rang De Basanti have behaved differently had they undergone a stress management course?

Jamshedpur, May 2: After corporate bigwigs and B-school students, schoolchildren suffering from stress will get training in lifestyle management.

At the recent annual meeting of Jamshedpur Old Girls? and Guys? Association (Jogga) ? an organisation promoting sports activities ? experts suggested that schoolchildren should take tips on lifestyle management because they are under stress, principally because of work pressure on them.

Take the example of 14-year-old Nikita Sharma. The girl arrives at school at 6 am. After her regular classes, Nikita spends at least an hour everyday rehearsing for the different programmes to be organised by the school before coming home around 2 pm.

Within half-an-hour after getting home, Nikita is once again out for her tuition followed by swimming and tennis classes. With such a hectic schedule day after day, Nikita is suffering from stress.

Nikita is not the only school student who has been suffering from stress: there are several children who, because of the pressure of work, are facing the same problem.

At the Jogga meet, the experts underlined the need to take steps to reduce the burden on students. Jogga has 36 city schools under its aegis, whose principals attended the conference.

Lalita Sareen, Jogga secretary and principal of Jamshedpur Public School, said: ?These days, students regularly complain of being constantly under pressure to perform well. Besides, several students have also been found suffering from diabetes, migraine, high blood pressure and anaemia.?

Several principals admitted that some bright students of their schools are suffering from stress. ?There are several students who are not only good in studies but also take part in various programmes and competitions organised by the schools. And because they are the best, we end up sending the same set of students for all programmes, which stresses them out,? they added.

But now, the experts are alarmed at the high number of students suffering from stress. To begin with, about 10 students from each school would be selected to be part of this training programme. Apart from this, separate sessions for school principals would also be organised.

?The principals would, in turn, impart training to fellow teachers and students at the schools,? Sareen pointed out, adding that the programmes would include a series of workshops and seminars conducted by experts from different fields.

The Jogga authorities are planning to invite nutritionists, counsellors and physical trainers to be a part of the programmes. Besides, they are, for the first time, also planning to include mountaineering as part of the programmes.

?Ace mountaineer Bachendri Pal would soon accompany schoolchildren on various expeditions conducted by Jogga,? Sareen added.

Psychiatrists in the city, too, said that of late, a number of schoolchildren, suffering from stress and anxiety, have visited them for counselling.

Recently, an average student, who was brought to the neuro-psychiatry department at Tata Motors Hospital for proper guidance, complained of being under stress, as he was overburdened with expectations from both parents as well as his school?s.

A.K. Patnaik, head of neuro-psychiatry department at Tata Motors Hospital, said: ?These cases are very common but the most important thing is that the students should be taught to utilise their time properly.?