The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Kota): In light of the alarming rise in student suicides in Kota, Rajasthan, experts have identified April and May as “high-risk months” for NEET and JEE aspirants. They have called upon the district administration to make counselling mandatory for students residing in PGs and hostels during this critical period.
The recent spate of suicides in Kota, including two students who took their lives within a span of 48 hours just days before the scheduled NEET examination on May 5, has sent shockwaves through the community. One of the victims, Bharat, left a heart-wrenching suicide note apologizing to his father for his inability to succeed in the exam.
Bhupesh Dikshit, a public health expert at ‘Shikshit Rozgaar Kendra Prabhandhak Samiti’, emphasizes the need for heightened vigilance by the administration during these high-risk months. He recommends mandatory counselling for students, increased monitoring of PGs and hostels, intensified night patrolling, and the formation of a rapid action team to keep a close eye on student activities.
Kota’s coaching industry, valued at around Rs 5,000 crore, has gained a reputation for producing toppers in various entrance exams. However, the city’s coaching centers have struggled to find a solution to the persistent problem of student suicides. In 2024 alone, nine students have already taken their own lives, following the tragic loss of 29 students last year.
Psychologist Eena Budhiraja attributes the rising suicide rates to the growing consumerism in society. She argues that the focus on money has led parents to prioritize careers in medicine and engineering, often disregarding their children’s unique talents and passions. This pressure to conform to societal expectations has contributed to the mental health crisis among students.
Surveys conducted in Kota have revealed that four out of every ten students in the city suffer from depression. With over 3,000 private hostels accommodating more than two lakh students pursuing medical and engineering coaching, the scale of the problem is staggering. The suicide notes left behind by these young aspirants paint a picture of immense pressure and a sense of failure.
JEE aspirant Niharika’s suicide note, in which she apologized to her parents for being unable to crack the exam and described herself as a loser, highlights the intense pressure these students face. Similarly, another JEE aspirant from Bihar ended his life by consuming poison, expressing his inability to muster the courage to tell his father about his struggles.
Deepa Khandelwal, a concerned mother, points out that the limited career options in humanities and the perception of medicine and engineering as lucrative professions have made coaching a necessity for cracking entrance exams. She argues that the education system bears a significant responsibility for the pressure students find themselves under.
In response to the crisis, Kota District Collector Ravinder Goswami recently penned letters to both parents and students, urging them to prioritize happiness and well-being over exam scores. He emphasized that success is not solely determined by passing an exam and encouraged parents to give their children a chance to improve themselves, drawing from his own experience of failing the PMT exam in Kota.
Goswami appealed to parents to maintain regular communication with their wards, listen to their concerns, and reassure them of their unconditional love and support. In his letter to students, he reminded them that failures provide opportunities for growth and that exams are merely a phase in life, not the ultimate goal.
As the Kota community grapples with this mental health crisis, it is crucial for all stakeholders – parents, educators, administrators, and policymakers – to come together and address the root causes of this problem. By fostering a supportive environment, encouraging open communication, and prioritizing the well-being of students, we can hope to prevent such tragedies and ensure that our youth have the opportunity to pursue their dreams without sacrificing their mental health and lives.
