Lok Sabha Question No. 429 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Suicide Committed by Students in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Jayadev Galla, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.429 ANSWERED ON 05/02/2024

## SUICIDE COMMITTED BY STUDENTS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

## 429. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA: SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  the  number  of  suicides  (male,  female  and  transgender)  that  were  committed  over  the  last  four years in the State of Andhra Pradesh, district-wise;

(b) the major factors identified to be the cause behind students committing suicide in Andhra Pradesh as per the Government studies/research;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  implemented/is  considering  implementing  any  scheme/initiative/ programme to actively tackle and reduce the number of students who commit suicide in India;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e)  whether  the  State  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  has  submitted  any  proposal/memorandum regarding tackling the issue of student suicides in the State and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a) and (b): Education being a concurrent list subject, Educational Institutions are managed by both Central  and  State  Government.  Majority  of  the  Educational  Institutions  in  the  country  falls  in  the purview  of  the  State  /  UT  Government.  National  Crime  Record  Bureau  (NCRB)  collects  data  on suicides  from  police  recorded  suicide  cases.  State  /  UT  wise  details  of  the  number  of  suicides  of students in 2022 is available in the Accidental Death & Suicide in India (ADSI) 2022 report of the NCRB which is accessible at

## https://ncrb.gov.in/uploads/nationalcrimerecordsbureau/custom/adsiyearwise2022/1701611156012A DSI2022Publication2022.pdf

As per the Accidental Deaths & Suicide in India (ADSI), 2022, Report of NCRB, there are various causes  of  suicides  like  professional/career  problems,  sense  of  isolation,  abuse,  violence,  family problems, mental disorders, addiction to alcohol, financial loss, chronic pain etc. As per the report, out of total 8908 suicide cases in Andhra Pradesh number of suicide due to 'Failure in Examination' is 121.

(c) and (d) : The Government accords the highest importance to each incident of suicide on campuses of  educational  institutions  and  has  initiated  numerous  initiatives  in  this  regard.  The  National Education  Policy  (NEP)  2020  further  stipulates  that  the  development  of  capacities  that  promote student wellness such as fitness, good health, psycho-social well-being, and sound ethical grounding are  also  critical  for  high-quality  learning  and  for  reducing  mental  pressure.  It  also  provisions opportunities  for  students  to  participate  in  sports,  culture/arts  clubs,  eco-clubs,  activity  clubs, community service projects, etc.

University Grants Commission (UGC) (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023 have been formulated to safe guard the interest of students. UGC had also notified UGC Regulations on curbing the menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009 and amended in 2016, and issued circulars for strict compliance of the regulations. To address the issue of mental health and well-being  during  and  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.  UGC  has  also  issued  Guidelines  for Promotion of Physical Fitness, Sports, Student's Health, Welfare, Psychological and Emotional Wellbeing at HEIs on 13.04.2023.

In order to prevent ragging in Higher Education Institutions, UGC has setup a nationwide toll free 24x7  anti  ragging  helpline  1800-180-5522  in  12  languages  which  can  be  accessed  by  students  in distress owing to ragging related incidents.

The  Ministry  of  Education  has  undertaken  various  other  steps  such  as  peer  assisted  learning, introduction of technical education in regional languages for students in order to ease the academic stress.  An  initiative  of  Ministry,  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' specialized 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  Ministry  on  10.07.2023  has  also  circulated  a  broad  framework  for  emotional  and  mental wellbeing of students in HEIs with request to take proactive measures to incorporate the same in the institutional functioning and instil a feeling of confidence in the student community.

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 for small group of 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)  :  No  such  proposal/memorandum  in  this  regard  has  been  received  from  the  State  of  Andhra Pradesh.

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