Kota's Ongoing Struggle with Student Suicides

Kota's Tragic Reality

This month, a 16-year-old engineering aspirant in Kota allegedly died by suicide, hanging himself from a ceiling fan inside his PG room. This tragic incident is one of many in Kota, the country's coaching hub. This year alone, nearly 13 students have ended their lives. Last year, the number was a staggering 26. The education system in Kota prioritises merit over individual well-being, with competition reaching dangerously extreme levels. The crisis is deeper than it appears, with many parents refusing to believe their children's deaths were suicides.

A Father's Struggle

Harjot Singh Chhabra, father of the deceased Manjot Chhabra, firmly believes his son was murdered. "First of all, I want to make it clear that my son did not commit suicide. His hands were tied behind his back, and polythene was wrapped around his face. His neck was choked. I have four photos to show you (displays pictures). Look at my son's hand in this photo; his hands are tied behind him. When I reached his hostel room and turned his body, I discovered his hands were tied from behind. No one can tie their own hands and simultaneously tie something around their neck. It is impossible to wrap polythene around the face, tie something around the neck, and at the same time, tie your hands behind your back and then commit suicide."

Chhabra continues, "Since the first day, they (the police) have been trying to make me believe that my son committed suicide, even though no one would say it is a suicide after looking at these pictures. First of all, why would he commit suicide? A student commits suicide when their morale is down. In twelfth grade, my son secured 94 percent marks. He was the topper in his Whitehall school in Rampur, UP. After going there, in the first attempt and routine test, he got 620 out of 720 marks. Why would a student who got 620 marks commit suicide? Suicide is committed by students who are either depressed, come from poor families, can’t afford the fees, or whose parents and guardians are not able to afford the money, or for some other reason. But my son didn’t face any such problems."

"In the police station, I had to sit on the floor with my family to get the FIR registered"

Chhabra reveals a shocking level of official apathy from the government. Despite claims of providing the best support to victims and their families, his experience tells a different story.

"First, the case was handled by an IO. I said that I wanted an FIR related to murder to be registered. My son was murdered. I met the honourable Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He phoned the Governor of Rajasthan and told him that he would be sending a person from UP. I was accompanied by a Minister. A CB-CID enquiry was ordered in this case, but despite having a Congress government there, they misbehaved with me so much. In the police station, I had to sit on the floor with my family to get the FIR registered. They said that such cases routinely happen and that they wouldn’t register the FIR."

Students' Harrowing Experiences: The Relentless Pressure

More students have come forward, revealing their harrowing experiences in Kota. One student recounted a suicide incident and exposed the intense pressure they face due to relentless testing and academic demands. The constant stress and high expectations create a suffocating environment, pushing many students to their breaking point.

Antara Raj, a student in Kota, shared, "After giving a test, a student committed suicide by jumping off the fifth floor. The students are under pressure because of tests and marks. Twelfth's first batch started on January 10. The next batch started in April. We have tests every 21 days or weekly. Whoever gets the highest marks gets shifted to the star batch. If they score less there, they are sent back to the normal batch. A student in my class went to the star batch. He used to get good marks, regularly scoring 600+ in every test. So, he has gone to the star batch."

Shashank Pandey, a NEET aspirant, added, "There was a case from Allen in which a student committed suicide after the test. In the beginning, my situation in studies was not good, but later I improved. I have problems related to backlogs. Everything else is fine."

Discrimination and Mental Health: A Deeper Issue

While many coaching institutes persist with discriminatory practices, prioritising high-performing students to elevate their reputation and attract more enrollees, the issue runs deeper. These institutes push top students to achieve excellence at the expense of others, focusing solely on producing toppers for profit.

However, the blame doesn't rest solely on the coaching centres. Parents also contribute by imposing immense pressure on their children, and the system itself is at fault for failing to implement effective measures to improve student mental health.

Tarif Sheikh, an educationist in Kota, remarked, "Parents need to lower their expectations. They are as responsible as other factors. Firstly, parents must understand their children's capabilities and interests and which field they want to pursue. What is the point of forcing them into medical or NEET if they can't handle it? Many middle-class families have a comparison mindset, always comparing their children with others. They want their children to achieve what they couldn't. In my view, parents should consult their children about their interests. If parents don't have a strong bond with their children, the kids will come to the institutes under pressure and face double the pressure from both parents and coaching institutions. They won't be able to handle it. These are young children, between 15 and 18 years old, and they are not equipped to deal with such pressure, which is why they take such extreme steps."

He further emphasised the need for proper counseling: "Another major issue is that students are not receiving proper counseling. Where are they staying after coaching? Who are they associating with? When a student comes to Kota, it's easy for them to get distracted as they are alone and in their teenage years, facing many challenges. They need to find the right support. Because of these issues, the problems can escalate. Mental health is a huge factor, but I don't think any of these coaching centers handle it professionally. They rarely focus on mental health in a meaningful way. Everyone is only concerned with the student's academic output."

The Administration's Measures: Missing the Point

We spoke to Mukesh Kumar Choudhary, the Additional District Magistrate of Kota, who, like previous officials, mentioned the installation of anti-hanging devices. However, the administration seems to miss the crucial point: a student determined to end their life will not solely rely on a ceiling fan. The real solution lies not in anti-hanging devices but in creating an environment that prevents students from ever reaching the point of considering suicide.

"We have implemented all necessary measures from our side. From the district administration's end, a coordinator has been appointed. Additionally, nodals have been assigned to all hostels and areas. The collector has initiated a program called 'Dinner with the Collector,' which takes place every Friday. We have also instructed hostel and PG associations to install anti-hanging devices. Failure to comply will result in seizure proceedings and preventive actions," said Choudhary.

If measures like anti-hanging devices are in place, then the question arises: how did a student recently manage to commit suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan? This recent incident calls into question the effectiveness of these safety measures. We spoke to the coaching coordinator and the nodal officer appointed by the government in Kota to learn more about the steps being taken to address this issue.

Mentorship Programs and Gatekeeper Training: Government Initiatives

Sunita Daga, the coaching coordinator and nodal officer explained the initiatives launched to support students. "The most important initiative we have launched is the mentorship program. Coaching faculty members serve as mentors for students in groups of 150 to 200. They regularly interact with students, especially during exam periods, and provide support if students score lower marks. They follow up on absences and address continuous absenteeism. So, firstly, the mentorship program is going on. Secondly, we have implemented gatekeeper training, as mandated by the government. This training helps identify students who are stressed, have suicidal tendencies, or are struggling to cope. All hostel faculty and coaches have undergone gatekeeper training to better support these students. We have completed the gatekeeper training for approximately 1,000 staff members."

Controversy Over Discriminatory Practices

When asked about the discriminatory practices, Sunita Daga dismissed the concerns, stating that having star batches based on performance is not discriminatory. "The point of such batches is that if I score 99 percent and I am an advanced student and I need some advanced training, then you should give me some advanced training. Batches are made according to the initial tests based on the performance of the student. After that, students from top batches are placed in lower batches and lower batches go up to top batches. Batches are shifted on the basis of performance. It is not that they are just shuffling batches every now and then. I don't think you can call this discrimination."

Kota's coaching economy thrives on the influx of students seeking education. The administration faces a delicate balance, as the entire local economy largely depends on these students. While the administration is cautious about taking radical steps that might upset educational institutions and the people of Kota who gain employment opportunities from the current setup, it is equally crucial to ensure that our students excel and receive a quality education. This should not be driven by peer pressure, parental pressure, or the relentless demands of cutthroat coaching centers.

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