Lok Sabha Question No. 1007 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: Number of Suicides among Students in Various Coaching Institutions
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1007 ANSWERED ON 02/12/2024

## Number of Suicides among Students in Various Coaching Institutions

1007. Dr. Shashi Tharoor:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  survey  to  assess  the  number  of  suicides annually among students enrolled in various coaching institutions;

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

(c) whether the Government has any policy to tackle suicides in coaching institutes;

(d) if so the details thereof; and

(e) if not, whether the Government has any plans to include coaching institutions and higher educational institutions under the purview of the UMMEED guidelines?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (Dr. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (e): Comprehensive analysis of the data related to the accidental deaths and suicides in the country is published in the yearly Accidental Death & Suicide in India (ADSI) reports by National  Crime  Record  Bureau  (NCRB).  Details  of  students'  suicides  are  available  in  the year wise ADSI reports which are accessible at https://ncrb.gov.in/accidental-deaths-suicidesin-india-year-wise.html .

To  address  the  issue  of  suicide,  the  government  is  taking  multi-pronged  measures  and provides psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being to avoid incidences of suicide.

An  initiative  of  Ministry,  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.

A 'National Tele Mental Health Programme' has been launched in 2022, to improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on 28.11.2024, 36 States/  UTs  have  set  up  53  Tele  Mental  Health  Assistance  and  Networking  Across  States (MANAS) Cells. More than 16,11,000 calls have been handled on the helpline number.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the National Suicide Prevention Strategy in November, 2022 and UGC has issued advisory to HEIs on 06.01.2023 for taking actions as listed out in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

UGC has also issued Guidelines for Promotion of Physical Fitness, Sports, Student's Health, Welfare, Psychological and Emotional Well- being at HEIs on 13.04.2023, which provides for promoting physical fitness and sports activities for students; creating safeguards against academic pressure, peer pressure, behavioural issues, stress, career concerns, depression and other issues on the mental health of students; to teach positive thinking & emotions in the student community; and to promote a positive and supportive network for students.

The Ministry on 10.07.2023 has also circulated a broad framework for emotional and mental well-being of students in Higher Education Institutes (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.

Keeping in view the growth in number of unregulated private coaching centers in the country in  the  absence  of  any  laid  down  policy  or  regulation;  instances  of  such  centers  charging exorbitant  fees  from  students;  undue  stress  on  students  resulting  in  students  committing suicides etc.; Ministry of Education has circulated a Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centers to States/UTs  on  16.01.2024  for consideration by way  of  appropriate legal framework. This has been followed up with another letter to the States/ UTs on 16.07.2024. The Guidelines encompass several key aspects, including laying emphasis on significance of mental well-being, advocating for the prioritization of counsellors and psychologists' support within  coaching  centres;  no  segregation  of  batches  on  ground  of  academic  performance; restriction  on  increase  of  fee  during  the  currency  of  the  course;  non-enrolment  of  student below  16  years  of  age  or  before  completing  secondary  school  examination;    no  coaching classes during the students' school / college hours so that regular attendance in such school /college remains unaffected; access to  mental health counsellors; coaching classes should not be more than 5 hours in a day for a student; easy exit policy and refund of fee on pro-rata basis to students opting for exit.

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