Lok Sabha Question No. 315 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-20
Subject: Suicide Cases in Higher Educational Institutions
Ministry: Education
Asked by: A.K.P. Chinraj

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.315

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021

## Suicide Cases in Higher Educational Institutions

## *315. SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  incidents  of  suicides  by  the  students  of  Indian  Institute  of  Technology  (IITs), Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), Indian Institute of Science (IISCs), Central Universities and other higher educational institutions during 2014 to 2021 and out of those who committed suicide  the  number  of  students  belonging  to  Scheduled  Castes,  Scheduled  Tribes,  Other Backward Classes and Minorities;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  in  this  regard  keeping  in  mind  the increasing number of such suicides and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the measures taken by the Government to check such suicidal tendencies among students?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 315 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021 REGARDING 'SUICIDE CASES IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS' ASKED BY HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ.

(a) to (c) : The  number  of  incidents  of  suicides  by  the  students  of  Indian  Institute  of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), Indian Institute of Science (IISCs), Central Universities  and  other  higher  educational  institutions  during  2014  to  2021  viz-a-viz  number  of students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Minorities are as follows:

| S.No.   | Institute                                                                                                   |   Total |   SC |   ST |   OBC |   Minority |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|------|------|-------|------------|
| 1.      | Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)                                                                      |      34 |    5 |    0 |    13 |          0 |
| 2.      | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)                                                                      |       5 |    0 |    0 |     1 |          0 |
| 3.      | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore and Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISERs) |       9 |    3 |    0 |     1 |          0 |
| 4.      | Central Universities (CUs)                                                                                  |      37 |    9 |    1 |    14 |          3 |
| 5.      | Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)                                                         |       4 |    1 |    1 |     1 |          0 |
| 6.      | National Institute of technology (NITs)                                                                     |      30 |    6 |    0 |    11 |          0 |
| 7.      | Other Centrally funded Technical institutions i.e. NITIE Mumbai, SLIET Longowala                            |       3 |    0 |    1 |     0 |          0 |
| Total   | Total                                                                                                       |     122 |   24 |    3 |    41 |          3 |

The  Government  of  India  and  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  have  taken  several initiatives to check the incidents of harassment and discrimination of students.  University Grants Commission  (Redressal  of  Grievances  of  Students)  Regulations,  2019  have  been  formulated  to safeguard the interests of the students.

Further,  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.  In  addition,  institutions  conduct workshops/seminars on Happiness and Wellness, regular sessions on Yoga, induction programs, extracurricular  activities  including  sports  and  cultural  activities  and  appointment  of  Student Counsellors  for  overall  personality  development  and  de-stressing  students.   Further,  students, wardens and caretakers are sensitised to bring to notice the signs of depression in fellow students to the authorities so that timely clinical consultation may be provided.

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