Lok Sabha Question No. 4233 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Suicide in Premier Educational Institutions
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi, Gaurav Gogoi, Behanan Benny, K. Muraleedharan, Rajmohan Unnithan, T.N. Prathapan, Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4233 ANSWERED ON-27/03/2023

## Suicide in Premier Educational Institutions

## 4233.    SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  number  of  student  suicides  during  the  last  five  years  in  the  premier  educational institutes like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs);
- (b) the  details  of  total  number  of  student  suicides  based  on  Caste,  Gender,  Religion  and Educational Institute;
- (c) whether the Government has been able to identify the reasons behind such suicide cases and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the concrete steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to address the root cause of student suicide in these institutions and Universities;
- (e) whether students face caste-based discrimination in premier institutes like IITs; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the appropriate steps taken or likely to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

(DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a) & (b): The details are as follows-

| Institutes   | Number of suicides in last 5   | Caste   | Caste   | Caste   | Caste   | Caste   | Gender   | Gender   | Religion                                                                          |
|--------------|--------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Institutes   | Number of suicides in last 5   | Gen     | OBC     | SC      | ST      | EWS     | Male     | Female   |                                                                                   |
| IITs         | 33                             | 17      | 9       | 6       | 1       | 0       | 29       | 4        | Hindu-14, Islam-1, Christianity- 2 Data of religion is not maintained in 16 cases |
| NITs         | 24                             | 10      | 8       | 4       | 1       | 1       | 19       | 5        | All Hindus                                                                        |
| IIMs         | 4                              | 3       | 1       | 0       | 0       | 0       | 2        | 2        | All Hindus                                                                        |

(c):  The  reasons  identified  behind  such  suicides  include academic stress, family reasons, personal reasons, mental health issues, etc.

(d): The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provisions for counselling systems for handling stress and emotional adjustments in Institutions. It also provisions for opportunities for students participation in  sports,  culture/arts  clubs,  eco-clubs,  activity  clubs,  community  service  projects,  etc.  Further,  in alignment with the NEP, to eradicate language barrier for the students for an improved understanding and  improved  teaching  learning  outcome,  All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  has initiated the work of translation of technical books in 12 scheduled regional languages.University Grants Commission (UGC) (Redress of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2019 have been formulated to safe guard the interest of students. UGC has also notified UGC Regulations on curbing the menace of Ragging  in  Higher  Educational  Institutions,  2009  and  issued  circulars  for  strict  compliance  of  the regulations. To address the issue of mental health and well-being during the after COVID, UGC had issued  advisories  to  Higher  Education  Institutions  (HEIs)  on  05.04.2020.  UGC  has  also  issued Guidelines for  Promotion of Physical Fitness, Sports, Student's Health, Welfare, Psychological and Emotional Well-being at HEIs on 05.05.2022. University Grants Commission (UGC), vide DO No. 2109/2022(CPP-II) dated 6 th  January, 2023, have circulated the National Suicide Prevention Strategy formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Ministry has undertaken various steps such as peer assisted learning, introduction of technical education in regional languages for students in order to ease the academic stress. The Government of India  initiative,  named  MANODARPAN,  covers  a  wide  range  of  activities  to  provide  psychological support  to  students,  teachers  and  families  for  mental  and  emotional  well-being  during  the  COVID outbreak and beyond. Besides this, students' specialised psychological counselling helplines, students' wellness centres, buddy-support system and various other measures have been implemented in IITs and other Institutions, for early detection of cases of psychological stress.

The higher educational institutions  take  various steps  such  as conducting  workshops/  seminars on Happiness  and  Wellness,  regular  sessions  on  Yoga,  induction  programs,  extracurricular  activities including sports and cultural activities, assigning of one faculty adviser per 10 students to support with their  academics  and  monitor  their  progress,  and  appointment  of  Student  Counsellors  for  overall personality  development and de-stressing students. Further, students, wardens and caretakers are sensitized to bring to notice the signs of depression in fellow students to the authorities so that timely clinical consultation may be provided.

(e)  &  (f):  In  order  to  proactively  address  any  issues  of  SC/  ST  students,  Institutes  have  set  up mechanisms such as SC/ ST students' cells, Equal Opportunity Cell, Student Grievance Cell, Student Grievance Committee, Student Social Club, Liaison officers, Liaison Committee etc.

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