Lok Sabha Question No. 3126 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Suicide by SC/ST Students
Ministry: Education
Asked by: S. Venkatesan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3126

ANSWERED ON-20/03/2023

## Suicide by SC/ST Students

## 3126.  SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of reports on suicides of students  particularly those belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs)/Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Central Institutions of  Higher  education  and  the  recent  one  in  the  Indian  Institute  of  Technology  (IIT), Mumbai;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  SC/ST  students  cells  formed  in  Central  Institutions  of  Higher  Education and those institutions not having such cells, institution-wise;
- (d) whether one of the head counsellors of the said committee is a person who signed antireservation memorandum and IIT, Mumbai also admitted it as fact;
- (e) if  so,  whether  inclusion  of  such  members  will  not  affect  the  confidence  of  SC/ST students to approach them for their grievances;
- (f) if  so,  whether  the  Government  will  issue  suitable  instructions  to  put  persons  having social sensitiveness in those committees and remove those who are not; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and the details of SC/ST Cells of Central Institutions of Higher Education have members from students belonging to SCs/STs?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a)  &  (b):    The  National  Education  Policy  (NEP)  2020  provides  for  counselling  systems  for handling stress and emotional adjustments in Institutions. It also provides 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. University Grants Commission (UGC), vide DO No. 2-109/2022(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 wellbeing 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.

During last five years, 33 suicide cases from IITs, 24 cases from NITs and 4 cases from IIMs have been reported.

After the suicide was reported in IIT Bombay, the Institute has provided all necessary support to the family of the deceased. In addition, IIT Bombay has done an internal investigation through its Ex-Chief Vigilance Officer and the institute is further strengthening its existing mechanism for prevention and early detection of psychological stress. IIT Bombay is also cooperating with the SIT formed by the Maharashtra Government in their investigation.

(c) & (g): There are 23 IITs, 25 IIITs, 7 IISERs, 20 IIMs, 32 NITs and 1 IISc. Out of this, 19 IITs,  14  IIITs,  7  IISER,  1  IISc,  20  IIMs  and  26  NITs  have  SC/ST  students'  cell.  Remaining institutions  in  order  to  proactively  address  any  issues  of  SC/  ST  students  have  set  up mechanisms  such  as  Equal  Opportunity  Cell,  Student  Grievance  Cell,  Student  Grievance Committee, Student Social Club, Liaison officers, Liaison Committee etc.

(d) to (f): After the issue came to the notice of the institute in 2022, the person has been removed from the head counsellor position from the Student Wellness Centre. IIT Bombay has appointed a new In-Charge for Student Wellness Centre. The institute has initiated the recruitment of one counsellor each from the SC and ST communities, so that students can approach them for their grievance.

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