Lok Sabha Question No. 422 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Suicides by Students
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: BANSHILAL MAHTO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 422 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2018

## Suicides by Students

†*422. DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  suicides  being committed by students at various coaching centres in the country; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  inquiry  regarding  the incidents of frequent suicides by students in coaching centres at Kota in Rajasthan; (d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof along with the reasons for the said suicides; and (e) the steps being taken by the Government to check such incidents?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 422 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2018 REGARDING  'SUICIDES  BY  STUDENTS'  RAISED  BY  DR.  BANSHILAL MAHATO:

(a) to (e) : The Government is aware of the newspaper reports on the issue from time to time and deeply concerned with such incidents taking place in various coaching centres across the country. These private coaching centres are not regulated  by  this  Ministry.  Many  of  them  operate  at  school  level  and  hence come under the direct purview of the concerned State Governments. Therefore,  no  inquiry  into  suicides  by  students  in  these  coaching  centres, including  those  in  Kota  has  been  conducted  by  this  Ministry,  nor  any centralized data maintained in this regard.

However,  taking  cognizance  of  these  tragic  incidents,  this  Ministry  in  April, 2017  issued  an  advisory  to  all  the  State  Governments  asking  them  to  take steps for effective regulation of such centres in the interest of the students and their overall development.  In order to address the issue of student suicides, the  State  Governments  were  also  requested  to  consider  the  following  12 measures  suggested  by  Justice  Roopanwal  Commission  of  Enquiry  while framing the regulation:

- (i) The  university  should  evolve  a  mechanism  where  the  students  can appeal in case there is any excess by the university.
- (ii) Counselling  Centres  consisting  of  professionally  trained  counsellors should  be  set  up  which  shall  provide  services  to  students,  research scholars and faculty including non-teaching staff
- (iii) Monitoring Committees should be constituted which should be headed by the supervisors who would provide guidance on the matters related to the subjects studied by the students.
- (iv) Equal opportunity Cell headed by the Anti-discrimination Officer as per the  UGC  (Promotion  of  Equity  in  Higher  Educational  Institutions) Regulations, 2012 should be made functional.
- (v) Grievance Redressal Committee headed by the Ombudsman as per the UGC (Grievance Redressal) Regulation 2012 should be made effective
- (vi) Strong induction programme for better acclimatisation
- (vii) Establish,  as  far  as  possible,  local  guardian  system  for  outstation students
- (viii) Grievances to be discussed and dispensed with on weekly basis and Vice Chancellor to hold meetings on monthly basis
- (ix) Remedial teaching for academically weak students.
- (x) Deans to closely monitor Department problems.  Any serious issue to be brought to the notice of Vice Chancellor immediately
- (xi) University  to  select  suitable  student  volunteers  to  act  as  mentors  and help freshers.
- (xii) Effective administration and supervision of Hostel and strict compliance of Hostel Admission Rules and Regulations so that only current students allotted hostel accommodation by the University stay in the hostels.

As regards the educational institutes of the Ministry, a number of steps have been taken for overall development of students as well as to de-stress them. These include appointment of Student Counselors, organizing Workshops/Seminars  on  Happiness/Wellness,  regular  sessions  on  Yoga, holding  induction  programs,  extracurricular  activities  including  sports  and cultural activities etc.

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