PM wants children to be resilient to pressure

NEW DELHI: In the 7th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of building resilience in children to cope with pressures during an interaction with students, teachers, and parents at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital on Monday.

Addressing the gathering, Modi acknowledged the persisting questions related to cultural and societal expectations in PPC, despite it being the 7th edition. He said pressure is inevitable and individuals must prepare themselves to face it.

Modi acknowledged the role of teachers in mitigating external pressures and urged parents to collectively address the issue. He encouraged students to mentally prepare themselves for challenges, likening it to adapting to extreme weather conditions. Stressing the importance of a balanced lifestyle, he suggested gradually incrementing stress levels to avoid hampering students' abilities.

The Prime Minister emphasised the need for healthy competition and cautioned against sowing seeds of unhealthy competition within families, particularly among siblings. He urged parents not to compare their children, emphasising that exams are not a zero-sum game.

Modi encouraged parents to avoid making their children's achievements their visiting card, urging them to rejoice in the success of others. He highlighted the importance of physical health, recommending routines, exposure to sunlight, and sufficient sleep.

Discussing technology usage, Modi advised effective use of mobile phones through judgment-based decision-making. He addressed the subject of privacy and recommended creating rules in families, such as no electronic gadgets during dinner. He suggested educating parents about technology as an educational resource and promoting transparency by sharing passcodes.

In response to a question about maintaining a positive mindset, the Prime Minister shared his approach to challenges, stating, "It is in my nature to 'challenge every challenge' and not wait passively for them to pass." He emphasised continuous learning from new situations and drew confidence from the support of 140 crore countrymen.

Modi illustrated his governance philosophy, highlighting the need for perfect information from bottom to top and perfect guidance from top to bottom. He concluded by giving examples of poverty alleviation and the Covid-19 pandemic, emphasising proactive measures and collective strength.