With an aim to help people working in government departments deal with stress, the Maharashtra government through a resolution has made “silent therapy” a must for all employees.
As an incentive, employees who opt for this 10-day programme will neither lose their salaries as reporting for the therapy sessions will be considered part of their professional duty. According to a teacher, Neeta Shintre, who works in a government-run school in Thane, the programme, being held at an aashram in Igatpuri, is very useful as it not only gives “a sense of peace to the participant, but also helps in anger control and creating a sense of equilibrium, which one loses while working under stressful conditions”.
“The therapy entails that participants do not talk at all, even if it is to ask for some facility. We had to meditate and live as per a given timetable. Even the food was bland. Though it was difficult to adjust during the first couple of days, we got used to it and by the end of the 10 days, it did not matter. The vipassana was very invigorating as it refreshed the mind and energised the body,” Ms Shintre said.
J.M. Abhyankar, former deputy director (education), who was instrumental in recommending vipassana sessions for government employees said, “I found it essential for all government employees as many of them work under extremely stressful conditions. As a result, many become irritable and rude. There have already been four such workshops. The employees’ feedback has been very encouraging.”