New Delhi (Agency): In response to a series of student suicides, Kota, a renowned coaching hub, is taking proactive steps to address the mental health challenges faced by students. The campaign, named “Darwaze pe dastak” (knock on door), aims to involve wardens, mess workers, and tiffin service providers in identifying signs of depression or stress among students residing in hostels and PG accommodations.
The initiative encourages wardens to regularly check on students by knocking on their doors around 11 pm. These interactions enable wardens to assess students’ well-being, observe their behavior, and identify any potential signs of stress or depression. Considering that students spend a significant amount of time in hostels after coaching sessions, wardens are expected to be the first to detect signs of distress.
Kota attracts over 2.5 lakh students annually who come to prepare for competitive exams such as the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). This academic pressure, coupled with intense competition and high expectations from parents, contributes to the students’ challenges.
Chandrasheel Thakur, ASP, Kota, emphasizes the importance of early detection and intervention. He encourages mess workers and tiffin providers to report students who consistently miss meals or show unusual behavior. A dedicated hotline has been established for these individuals to share information with the authorities.
Naveen Mittal, president of the Kota Hostel Association, highlights the large number of hostels and PG accommodations in Kota. Wardens like Garima Singh actively engage with students, checking on their well-being without disturbing their routine. The campaign aims to create a supportive environment where students can seek help before reaching a breaking point.
The district administration recently instructed coaching institutes to suspend routine tests for NEET and other competitive exams for two months in response to the recent suicides. Additionally, the installation of safety devices on ceiling fans has been considered to prevent students from harming themselves.