text size:
New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told the Lok Sabha on Monday that more than 100 students have committed suicide in higher educational institutions, including IITs, IIMs and central universities, across the country since 2014.
The government also shared data on cases of ragging in recent years, and elaborated on the action taken to eradicate the defect from campuses.
According to the data shared on student suicides between 2014 and 2021, 122 students killed themselves in institutions. The government informed Parliament that central universities have seen the highest number of suicides – 37.
Central universities have also witnessed the highest number of SC/ST/OBC suicides – 14 students from OBC, nine from SC and one student from ST category have died by suicide in these institutions.
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) were at the second place, with a total of 34 student suicides. As per the break-up given by the government, 13 and five students from OBC and SC category respectively died by suicide in IITs.
The National Institute of Technology (NIT) also witnessed a high number of suicides, in which 30 students took their own lives. This includes 11 from OBC and six from SC category. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has reported nine students have committed suicide over the years.
Read also: Why is student suicide increasing? Ask any teen who has applied for CLAT, JEE, NEET, you will know
‘Reducing the stress of education’
Stating that the ministry has taken several steps to address the mental health concerns to check student suicides, Pradhan said, “With peer assistance in regional languages for students to reduce academic stress Learning and introduction of technical education”.
“Manodarpan, a Government of India initiative, covers a wide range of activities to provide psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being during the Covid outbreak and beyond. In addition, the institute organizes workshops/seminars on happiness and well-being, regular sessions on yoga, induction programmes, extra-curricular activities including sports, cultural activities and appointment of student mentors for overall personality development and reducing stress of the students.
Reduction in incidents of ragging
In reply to another question in the Lower House of Parliament, Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi said that there has been a sharp decline in ragging in higher education institutions in the country.
As per the data shared in the parliamentary reply, the total number of complaints of ragging received over the years stood at 1,016 in 2018, 1,090 in 2019, 219 in 2020 and 425 in 2021.
Action taken on these complaints resulted in 535 students penalized and 254 suspended in 2018, 504 penalized and 246 suspended in 2019, 97 penalized and 48 suspended in 2020 And 160 were punished and 72 were suspended in 2021.
The drop in the number of complaints about ragging received in 2020 can be attributed to shifting the mode of education from physical to 219. Online Classes during the pandemic.
Despite this, the cases of ragging are increasing continuously. Sanctions speaks of poor implementation of the rules on them since 2009.
In her response, Annapurna Devi said that in order to ensure that such incidents do not take place on campuses, “UGC has made it mandatory for all institutions to include in their prospectus the instructions of the government regarding prohibition of ragging and consequences” “.
“A nationwide, toll-free 24×7 anti-ragging helpline – 1800-180-5522 – has been set up in 12 languages, which can be accessed by students in distress due to incidents of ragging,” she said.
In addition, the University Grants Commission has set up an anti-ragging website as well as a coordination committee and inter-council committee for effective measures against ragging in higher educational institutions, the Lok Sabha was told.
(Edited by Saikat Niyogi)
Read also: After 4 suicides in a year – 3 by hanging – IISc starts removing ceiling fans in hostel rooms
subscribe our channel youtube And Wire
Why the news media is in trouble and how you can fix it
India needs free, unbiased, non-hyphenated and questionable journalism even more as it is facing many crises.
But the news media itself is in trouble. There have been brutal layoffs and pay-cuts. The best of journalism is shrinking, bowing to raw prime-time spectacle.
ThePrint has the best young journalists, columnists and editors to work for it. Smart and thinking people like you will have to pay a price to maintain this quality of journalism. Whether you live in India or abroad, you can Here,