School Fest: More girls wilting under pressure

THRISSUR: There is no doubt that girls are outmanoeuvring boys in the school youth festival both in terms of number of participants and winners. But at the same time it appears that the days when Kerala girls were known for their physical prowess are gone.At the end of the fifth day of the 52nd State School Youth Festival, more than 30 female contestants, so far, collapsed on the stage due to anxiety, tension, menstruation problems and exhaustion.“As the festival is nearing its end, the number of hospital cases is increasing,” said Shaiju Sebastian, ACT ambulance service driver. The girls blamed the sweltering climate and unrealistic expectations of parents and teachers for their on-stage collapses. Of the 10,190 contestants, nearly 60 per cent are girls.Suhaila of MES Higher Secondary School, Valanchery, Malappuram, one of the contestants who collapsed on the stage said: “It was very hot. After completing the mime event, I began feeling dizzy and I had no idea when I collapsed.”A judge who was watching the proceedings of the festival said many girls ‘fainted’ as they were performing on empty stomach. They were here at the break of the dawn. They should have eaten something for breakfast before the events,” he said, adding that the unhealthy practice of allowing large number of ‘appealed participants’ had coupled the woes of contestants, judges and the audience alike.The flood of appeals is causing unexpected delay to the events, often two or three times more than the prescribed time schedule. “We have arranged a panel of doctors, both allopathic and ayurvedic, to help  students at the venue apart from the service of councillors to alleviate the unnecessary fear and anxiety of the participants. We are delivering our level best to ensure the safety of kids,” said Dr G Nandini, deputy district medical officer.The hype created mainly by the media and others have given way to disappointment and even despair to the contestants over the fate of results. And whatever be the reason, the girls wilting on the stage continue with the progress of the festival.