Lok Sabha Question No. 664 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Rising Cases of Suicides in Coaching Institutes in Kota
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.664

ANSWERED ON 24/07/2023

## RISING CASES OF SUICIDES IN COACHING INSTITUTES IN KOTA

## 664. SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

## Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that there has been rising cases of suicides by students in Kota, Rajasthan, the coaching hub of India;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  cases  of  student  suicides  in  Kota  as  well  as  in  other  such  coaching institutes in the country during the last five years, year-wise and State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government has taken any measures to prevent these rising cases of student suicides through parent counseling sessions etc. in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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.  The  number  of  suicide  cases  of  students  of  all  these institutions  across  the  country  including  Kota,  Rajasthan  are  not  maintained.  However,  as  per  the Accidental  Deaths  &  Suicide  in  India  (ADSI),  2021,  Report  of  National  Crime  Record  Bureau (NCRB), there are various causes of suicides like professional / Career problems, sense of isolation, abuse, violence, family problems, mental disorders etc.

(c)  to  (e)      National  Education  Policy  (NEP)  2020  provides  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. To  address  the  issue  of  mental  health  and  well-being  during  and  after  COVID,  UGC  had  issued advisories to Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) on 05.04.2020.UGC has also issued Guidelines for Promotion of Physical Fitness, Sports, Student's Health, Welfare, Psychological and Emotional Well-  being  at  HEIs.  In  January  2023,  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC),  has  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 well-being during the COVID outbreak and beyond. The Ministry has also advised the institutions to make the system more robust

that  would  include  prevention,  detection  and  remedial  measures  for  addressing  possible  cause  of suicides.

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  group  of  students  to support with their academics and monitor their progress, and appointment of Student Counselors for overall personality development and de-stressing students.

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