STUDIES ON THE AWARENESS, APPREHENSIONS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. The governments have imposed various restrictions and taken several preventive measures to contain the spread of this viral infection. People started experiencing a new, unpredictable and rapidly evolving situation. During this one year of pandemic period, the rising tide of coronavirus infections, strict preventive measures like lockdowns and corona curfews, living life on the edge every day, uncertainty of the future and many more adverse situations have triggered anxiety among different groups of people including the college students. After a year of the ongoing pandemic, the situation still demands a sensible response towards the disease. A study was conducted to know the overall awareness level of COVID-19 among the students of West Bengal, India. Respondents of this study were apprehensive about several factors like the decreasing availability of jobs, a lack of real-life experience and a turbulent economic situation. The aspirations of students of getting their dream job, seeking admission in a prestigious institution and becoming economically independent are also affected by the pandemic situation. In this context, there is an urgent need for sustained awareness through recognized and responsible print, electronic, and social media so that students can update their understanding of the pandemic. The development of scientific temper and rationalization among the students may reduce the anxiety of their future and help them to nurture their aspirations for better career prospects in this pandemic situation.