In recent times, Kota, Rajasthan, renowned as the “coaching hub” or “Kota Factory” for engineering and medical entrance exams, is grappling with a concerning trend of student suicides. Another student from a coaching centre in Kota has taken their life by hanging, further highlighting the distressing incidents.
The deceased, Nisha Yadav (21), was originally from Auraiya district in Uttar Pradesh. She was residing in a hostel in Mahaveer Nagar First Area. On Wednesday night, the student took her own life by hanging in her room. The cause behind the student’s suicide has not been disclosed yet. The body has been shifted to MBBS Hospital’s mortuary. Post-mortem will be conducted after the arrival of family members. According to the information, Nisha was preparing for the NEET exam through private coaching in Kota. She used to live in the Indravihar area initially. Just 12 days ago, Nisha had changed hostels and moved to Mahaveer Nagar First Area. Her father was also present during this transition. Nisha’s father returned after staying in Kota for 6 days and coming back on November 23. Late at night, Nisha had a phone conversation with her father. After that, she hanged herself in her room. It is said that when Nisha did not answer her father’s call, he became suspicious. Around 1 am, he called the hostel staff to talk to Nisha. When Nisha did not open the door despite the staff knocking, the hostel staff informed the hostel manager. After that, the gate was broken during the night. Upon entering, Nisha’s body was found hanging in the room.
Second suicide in three days
This is the second suicide incident in Kota City in three days. Three days ago (November 27), a West Bengal native, actively preparing for the NEET exam while residing in Kota, committed suicide by hanging. The deceased, identified as Forid Hussain (20), resided in a rented room in Kota’s Wakf Nagar area. In the late evening, he took the heartbreaking step of ending his life by hanging himself in his room. After being found, he was swiftly taken to a private hospital, and removed from the noose. Unfortunately, the doctor, following an examination, pronounced him dead. The police have since transferred the deceased’s body to the mortuary of MBS Hospital for post-mortem analysis. It is worth noting that incidents of suicide among coaching students in Kota are increasing continuously at an alarming rate. From January to now in 2023, a total of 26 students have committed suicide. The prevalent cause of these incidents appears to be academic stress, with family issues also cited as a contributing factor in some instances. The rising number of student suicides has raised significant concerns.
Rising student suicides in India
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2021 reveals a concerning rise in student suicides in India, with 13,089 reported cases. This represents a substantial 32.5% increase compared to the 9,905 student suicides recorded in 2017.
The data indicates that, on average, almost 36 student suicides occurred every day throughout the year 2021. This significant surge in student suicides raises alarm bells and underscores the urgent need to address mental health issues and stress factors faced by students. Several factors could contribute to this rise, including academic pressure, intense competition, socio-economic factors, and the challenges associated with the global pandemic. Understanding the specific triggers and addressing them systematically is crucial to developing effective strategies for mental health support and suicide prevention among students.
These statistics emphasize the importance of creating a supportive environment, promoting mental health awareness, and implementing strategies to manage stress and academic pressures. Additionally, targeted interventions and counselling services can play a vital role in preventing further escalation of student suicides in the country.
