95% of Assam youth suffer from mental health issues due to cyberbullying, corporal punishment: Study
Guwahati (PTI): An estimated 95 per cent of the youth in Assam have suffered cyberbullying and corporal punishment leading to mental health issues, a poll conducted by UNICEF and National Service Scheme (NSS) has revealed.
Currently, 19 per cent of Assam's 3.1 crore population (Census 2011) is in the age group of 15-24 years.
Close to 60 per cent of the young people who were surveyed pointed out that it impacted their social relationships, for 24 per cent it led to stress, anxiety and fear, and 17 per cent reported physical injury, the report said.
The U-Report poll, launched in July this year, was developed to support the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights' (ASCPCR) campaign called Suraksha, aiming to raise public awareness on the forms of violence against children and redressal mechanisms.
U-Report is a social platform created by UNICEF, available via SMS, Facebook and Twitter, where young people express their opinion .
Dr Mythili Hazarika, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Gauhati Medical College Hospital, said cyberbullying has become common in recent years as the presence of young people in the digital space has increased considerably, even leading to death by suicide in some cases.
"Social alienation, a feeling of powerlessness, anxiety, depression and loneliness are common manifestations. The victim often believes that it is his/her fault leading to psychological issues. It
is important that the victim must report the matter to his/her immediate family and take legal redressal", Hazarika told PTI.
Social activist and counsellor Archana Borthakur told PTI that trolling in cyberspace as well as corporal punishment can have a permanent effect on the mental health of young people and they must immediately go to the police, counsellors and also seek legal help.
As many as 9,500 NSS volunteers from 24 universities and educational institutions of the state participated in the poll on cyberbullying and corporal punishment and its results were released on Sunday.
Half of the young people reported being bullied online by an unknown person, 12 per cent were bullied by a classmate and 14 per cent by a friend.
Facebook was identified by 36 per cent of the young people as the most common social platform for being bullied, followed by Instagram at 25 per cent.
Spreading lies, embarrassing photos or videos on social media (35 per cent) were the most frequent forms of bullying with physical appearance as the most common reason for being bullied online.
According to the poll, 35 per cent of young people experienced corporal punishment at home, 25 per cent at school, 14 per cent at other spaces such as private tuitions and on sports grounds. Twenty-six per cent experienced it in all the three settings.
The most common form of punishment was being hit or slapped on the hand, arm or leg (67 per cent) followed by yelling or verbal abuse (16 per cent).
Awareness about redressal mechanisms were known to 68 per cent of the volunteers, of which 57 per cent recognised Assam Police as the most popular available support system.
"Given Assam government's impetus on creating a conducive environment for youth to grow and thrive, UNICEF Assam has been working with them, especially those from the most vulnerable communities," UNICEF Assam chief Madhulika Jonathan said.
In 2020-21, the NSS Directorate for the northeast region and UNICEF Assam joined hands to work on the issue of child protection in all eight states as a mandate of a national partnership between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and UNICEF India.
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Firing outside home: One more member of Lawrence Bishnoi gang arrested
Mumbai (PTI): The Mumbai Police have arrested one more member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in connection with firing outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's residence here last month, officials said on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Harpal Singh (34), a resident of Fatehabad in Haryana, was apprehended by a team of the Mumbai crime branch from his hometown on Monday evening, an official said.
Singh was brought to Mumbai in the early hours of Tuesday and will be produced before a court later in the day, he said.
This is the sixth arrest in connection with the firing incident.
Two motorcycle-borne persons opened fire outside Khan's residence at the Galaxy Apartment in Mumbai's Bandra area on April 14 and fled the spot.
Singh's name surfaced during the interrogation of accused Mohammed Rafique Chowdhary, another Bishnoi gang member who was arrested earlier this month in the firing case, the official said.
Singh had asked Chowdhary to conduct a recce around Khan's residence and also gave Rs 2-3 lakh to him, the police said.
Lawrence Bishnoi, currently lodged in the Sabarmati central prison in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, and his younger brother Anmol Bishnoi, who is believed to be in the US or Canada, have been named in the firing case.
