Lok Sabha Question No. 456 (STARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Increase in Suicide Cases in Educational Institutions
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Behanan Benny, Rajmohan Unnithan

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 456 ANSWERED ON 03/04/2023

## Increase in Suicide Cases in Educational Institutions

## *456. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has noticed that there is an increase in cases of suicide by students in educational institutions like IITs including IIT- Chennai and IIT-Mumbai, NITs, IIMs, Central/State Universities and AIIMS especially among students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class Communities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of these students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year in said institutes, State/year-wise including Odisha;
- (c) whether the cases of suicide are proportionately higher in case of students pursuing higher education, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has given any directive to the State Governments in this regard, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has proposed to initiate a legislation to stop caste/race-based discrimination in the higher educational institutions, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to prevent such instances of suicides and circumstances where students are pressurised to take such extreme steps?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION

## (SH. DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (F) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 456 ANSWERED ON 03/04/2023 REGARDING 'INCREASE IN SUICIDE CASES IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS' ASKED BY SHRI BENNY BEHANAN AND SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN, HON'BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

(a) to (f): Education being a concurrent list subject, educational institutions are managed by both Central and State Government. With regard to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Central Universities (CUs) and AIIMS, the details of number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year are at Annexure . The Government accords the highest importance to each incident of suicide on campuses of educational institutions and has initiated numerous initiatives in this regard.

No data of suicide in respect of State Universities is maintained centrally. No suicide cases have been reported by any of the IITs, NITs, IIMs and CUs functioning in the State of Odisha in the last 5 years. Only one case in AIIMS, Bhubaneshwar has been reported in 2020.

As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report 2021 of Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India which contains data for the period 2017-2021, the number of students, who committed suicide, is 13089, which includes 7396 males and 5693 females. However, the data regarding the suicides differentiating between students pursuing higher education vis-a-vis students pursuing school education is not maintained.

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.

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 circulated the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, 2021 formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Ministry of Education 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. IIT Bombay has launched a self-help website, BANDHU, dedicated to the emotional well-being of the students.

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. Further, University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued instructions from time to time for promoting equality among students.

*****

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN PART (a) to (f) OF THE REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 456 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03/04/2023 REGARDING 'INCREASE IN SUICIDE CASES IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS' ASKED BY SHRI BENNY BEHANAN AND SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN, HON'BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

| 1. Details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | 1. Details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | 1. Details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported         | 1. Details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported         | 1. Details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported         | 1. Details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported         | 1. Details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported         | 1. Details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported         |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                                                             | Institutes/ Universities                                                           | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year |
|                                                                                    |                                                                                    | 2018                                                                                     | 2019                                                                                     | 2020                                                                                     | 2021                                                                                     | 2022                                                                                     | 2023                                                                                     |
| 1.                                                                                 | IITs                                                                               | 8                                                                                        | 8                                                                                        | 3                                                                                        | 4                                                                                        | 9                                                                                        | 3                                                                                        |
| 2.                                                                                 | IIMs                                                                               | 1                                                                                        | 0                                                                                        | 1                                                                                        | 1                                                                                        | 1                                                                                        | 0                                                                                        |
| 3.                                                                                 | NITs                                                                               | 3                                                                                        | 8                                                                                        | 1                                                                                        | 2                                                                                        | 7                                                                                        | 3                                                                                        |
| 4.                                                                                 | AIIMS                                                                              | 2                                                                                        | 0                                                                                        | 4                                                                                        | 2                                                                                        | 3                                                                                        | 0                                                                                        |
| 5.                                                                                 | CUs                                                                                | 6                                                                                        | 4                                                                                        | 4                                                                                        | 1                                                                                        | 5                                                                                        | 9                                                                                        |
| Total                                                                              | Total                                                                              | 20                                                                                       | 20                                                                                       | 13                                                                                       | 10                                                                                       | 25                                                                                       | 15                                                                                       |

| 2.     | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported                                                                                                          | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   |
|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No. | State/UT                                                                                   | Name of Institutes                                                                                                                                                                                | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   |
|        |                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2018                                                                                       | 2019                                                                                       | 2020                                                                                       | 2021                                                                                       | 2022                                                                                       | 2023                                                                                       |
| 1      | Andhra Pradesh                                                                             | IIT Tirupati, IIM Visakhapatnam, NIT- Andhra Pradesh, Central University of Andhra Pradesh, Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh, CU National Sanskrit University                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 2      | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                          | NIT-Arunachal Pradesh, CU Rajiv Gandhi University                                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 3      | Assam                                                                                      | IIT Guwahati, NIT-Silchar, Assam University, CU Tezpur University                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 3                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          |
| 4      | Bihar                                                                                      | IIT Patna, IIM Bodhgaya, NIT-Patna, AIIMS Bihar, AIIMS Patna, Central University Of South Bihar, Mahatma Gandhi Central University                                                                | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 5      | Chhattisgarh                                                                               | CU Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, IIT Bhilai, IIM Raipur, NIT-Raipur, AIIMS Raipur                                                                                                                | 1                                                                                          | 2                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          |
| 6      | Delhi                                                                                      | IIT Delhi, NIT-Delhi, AIIMS Delhi, University of Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, The Central Sanskrit University | 3                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 3                                                                                          | 3                                                                                          | 4                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 7      | Goa                                                                                        | IIT Goa, NIT Goa                                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 8      | Gujarat                                                                                    | IIT Gandhinagar, IIM Ahmedabad, SVNIT-Surat, AIIMS Rajkot, Central University of Gujarat                                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          |
| 9      | Haryana                                                                                    | IIM Rohtak, NIT-Kurukshetra, Central University of Haryana                                                                                                                                        | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |

| 2.     | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported                                                                  | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   |
|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No. | State/UT                                                                                   | Name of Institutes                                                                                                                                        | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   |
|        |                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                           | 2018                                                                                       | 2019                                                                                       | 2020                                                                                       | 2021                                                                                       | 2022                                                                                       | 2023                                                                                       |
| 10     | Himachal Pradesh                                                                           | IIT Mandi, IIM Sirmaur, NIT- Hamirpur, AIIMS Bilaspur, Central University of Himachal Pradesh                                                             | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 11     | Jammu& Kashmir                                                                             | IIT Jammu, IIM Jammu, NIT-Srinagar, Central University of Jammu , Central University of Kashmir, AIIMS Jammu                                              | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          |
| 12     | Jharkhand                                                                                  | IIT ISM Dhanbad, IIM Ranchi, NIT- Jamshedpur, AIIMS Deoghar, Central University of Jharkhand                                                              | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          |
| 13     | Karnataka                                                                                  | IIT Dharwad, IIM Bangalore, NITK- Surathkal, Central University of Karnataka                                                                              | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 2                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 14     | Kerala                                                                                     | IIT Palakkad, IIM Kozhikode, NIT- Calicut, Central University of Kerala                                                                                   | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 2                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          |
| 15     | Madhya Pradesh                                                                             | IIT Indore, IIM Indore, NIT-Bhopal, AIIMS Bhopal, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vish., Indira Gandhi National Tribal University                                      | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 2                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 16     | Maharashtra                                                                                | IIT Bombay, IIM Nagpur, VNIT- Nagpur, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, AIIMS Nagpur                                                   | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          |
| 17     | Manipur                                                                                    | NIT-Manipur, Manipur University                                                                                                                           | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          |
| 18     | Meghalaya                                                                                  | IIM Shillong, NIT-Meghalaya, North Eastern Hill Univ.                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 19     | Mizoram                                                                                    | NIT-Mizoram, Mizoram University                                                                                                                           | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 20     | Nagaland                                                                                   | NIT-Nagaland, Nagaland University                                                                                                                         | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 21     | Odisha                                                                                     | IIT Bhubaneshwar, IIM Sambalpur, NIT-Rourkela, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Central University of Odisha                                                            | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 22     | Puducherry                                                                                 | NIT-Puducherry, Pondicherry University                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 23     | Punjab                                                                                     | IIT Ropar, IIM Amritsar, DR. B.R. Ambedkar NIT-Jalandhar, Central University of Punjab                                                                    | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 24     | Rajasthan                                                                                  | IIT Jodhpur, IIM Udaipur, NIT-Jaipur, Central University of Rajasthan, AIIMS Jodhpur                                                                      | 2                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          |
| 25     | Sikkim                                                                                     | NIT-Sikkim, Sikkim University                                                                                                                             | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 26     | Tamil Nadu                                                                                 | IIT Madras, IIM Tiruchirappalli, NIT- Tiruchirappalli, AIIMS Madurai, Central University of Tamil Nadu                                                    | 1                                                                                          | 4                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 3                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          |
| 27     | Telangana                                                                                  | IIT Hyderabad, NIT-WARANGAL, AIIMS Bibinagar, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, University of Hyderabad , The English & Foreign Languages University | 1                                                                                          | 4                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 28     | Tripura                                                                                    | NIT-Agartala, Tripura University                                                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |

| 2.     | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported                                                                                              | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   | State-wise details of institutes/ universities where student suicides have been reported   |
|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No. | State/UT                                                                                   | Name of Institutes                                                                                                                                                                    | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   | Number of students who committed suicide during the last five years and the current year   |
|        |                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                       | 2018                                                                                       | 2019                                                                                       | 2020                                                                                       | 2021                                                                                       | 2022                                                                                       | 2023                                                                                       |
| 29     | Uttar Pradesh                                                                              | IIT Kanpur, IIT BHU, IIM Lucknow, NIT-Allahabad, AIIMS Raebareli, Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, University of Allahabad | 5                                                                                          | 3                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 3                                                                                          | 5                                                                                          |
| 30     | Uttarakhand                                                                                | IIT Roorkee, IIM Kashipur, NIT- Uttrakhand, AIIMS Rishikesh, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University                                                                               | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 2                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| 31     | West Bengal                                                                                | IIT Kharagpur, IIM Calcutta, NIT- Durgapur, IIEST Shibpur, AIIMS Kalyani, CU Visva Bharati                                                                                            | 1                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 2                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          | 1                                                                                          | 0                                                                                          |
| Total  | Total                                                                                      | Total                                                                                                                                                                                 | 20                                                                                         | 20                                                                                         | 13                                                                                         | 10                                                                                         | 25                                                                                         | 15                                                                                         |

*****