Jaipur— Deeply concerned over the increasing suicidal cases among pupils, the Rajasthan High Court has asked the Advocate General (AG), Nyaya Mitra, and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to proffer recommendations on averting suicides by students in coaching institutes of the state, particularly in Kota and Sikar district.
The court's direction was in connection to the hearing of a suo motu cognizance of the incidents of suicide by students of coaching institutes in Kota.
The court enjoined them to scrutinize the matter and suggest a framework to institute an efficacious psychological counseling system to address the situation.
The court also extended an invitation to senior advocate Sudhir Gupta to forward his proposals on creating a productive mechanism based on the report of an expert. The court has scheduled a hearing on July 20 to deliberate on the matter.
During the hearing on May 30, the Advocate General informed the court that counselors have been appointed on an institutional basis, and the information received from them, in this regard, was available with the Monitoring Committee. The court opined that the effectiveness of the counseling system could be enhanced by engaging a body like the Mental Health Foundation.
The court acknowledged that the Tata Institute of Science had previously presented a report on this matter.
Additionally, the court has issued several guidelines in the past, and the state government has established a regulatory mechanism that the committee is monitoring.
The advocate for the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) emphasized the necessity of focusing on the psychological counseling of children. In this regard, the AG, Nyaya Mitra, and NCPCR are expected to furnish their recommendations on developing an effective psychological counseling system.
More than 2 lakh pupils are believed to engage in tutelage at various coaching centers in Kota, known as the coaching capital of the country, annually, with the objective of succeeding in the medical and engineering entrance exams.
These students, who are often away from their homes for the first time, find themselves in a city without any emotional or moral backing from their guardians, making it arduous for them to cope with the pressure of academic studies and competition.
As per experts, these students find themselves amidst strangers upon their arrival in Kota, making it challenging for them to form intimate bonds of camaraderie. The coaching institutions administer periodic evaluations, generally once every three weeks, and inform parents of the results through messages and letters.
Many students are unable to face the disgrace of poor results, and those who excelled in school often struggle to explain their poor performance in review tests to their parents. The test scores determine the batch placement of pupils, and when their ranks plummet, they are relegated to "lower" batches, which can damage their self-esteem. The expectations of parents frequently drive their children to take their lives, and issues such as romantic entanglements, substance abuse, and addiction can also be contributing factors.
The state government is undertaking proactive measures to address the pressing issue of mental health problems, including depression and suicides, among students studying in coaching institutes.
In an effort to combat this grave concern, the government is in the process of introducing the Rajasthan Coaching Institute (Control and Regulation) Bill 2023 specifically tailored for coaching institutes.
A 16-year-old NEET aspirant committed suicide at her uncle's house in Kota Thermal Power Plant colony on May 27.
This marks the fifth such incident this year in Kota, the coaching hub for entrance exams.
In 2022, fifteen coaching students died by suicide in Kota.
Between January 2019 and December 2022, Kota police recorded 52 suicides by students.
27 of these students were enrolled with different coaching centres in Kota.
Experts have underlined the need for mental grooming and aptitude tests before sending kids to Kota for coaching.
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