• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Kota has witnessed 23 suicide cases in the last eight months, setting off alarm bells in the Rajasthan city. Two students died by suicide within 5 hours on Sunday raising national concerns over the issue. In the wake of the situation, the administration decided to stay all the tests and examinations in coaching centres in the city. The decision has been taken to 'provide mental support and security' to students.

According to police data cited by the Hindustan Times, the years 2020 and 2021 witnessed no suicide, while 20 students died by suicide in 2018. Seven suicides were reported in 2017, 17 in 2016 and 18 in 2015. In order to prevent suicides, spring-loaded fans in rooms were installed and anti-suicide nets were put up in balconies and lobbies of hostels in Kota to prevent students from taking extreme steps.

Govt Releases Bill To Prevent Suicides In Kota

In the 2018 election manifesto, the state government had promised a law to control the increasing cases of suicide in Kota, and in January this year, a first draft of the Rajasthan Coaching Institute (Regulation and Control) Bill, 2023 was released.

Also Read Kota: Coaching Institutes Banned From Conducting Tests For Two Months Amid Rise In Suicide Cases

The draft bill also seeks to regulate tuition fees, annual fee hikes, cost of study material and other charges levied by private institutions, including tuition centres.

The bill proposes hefty penalties -- up to Rs 5 crore -- for repeat offenders and mentions setting up a career counselling cell to inform students about job options.

What Is Rajasthan Coaching Institute (Regulation and Control) Bill?

- The bill will deal with false claims by coaching centres about their students succeeding in competitive exams.

- There will also be provisions for differently abled students, teachers and non-teaching staff in private educational institutions.

- According to the bill, the authority shall mandate setting up a 24x7 helpline for students and parents.

- In case if the private institutions violate the provisions of the proposed law, they will have to pay a penalty of Rs 1 crore. This could increase up to 5 crore.

Rajasthan Minister Slams Coaching Institutes Over Increasing Suicide Cases

Rajasthan Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas has raised his concern on the increasing suicide cases in coaching institutes in Kota and said -coaching institutes are only engaged in collecting money.

Pratap Singh Khachariyawas also took a dig at the coaching institutions in the state and said "The coaching operators of Rajasthan are very wealthy but they cannot harass the children on the basis of money. They should be careful otherwise their coaching institute will be vacant. I will tell the parents that their children will not move forward with these coaching, the children are smart. You give money to the coaching people, but they give threats to your children, what is the need for the coaching person to take the exam every second or third day?"

CM Ashok Gehlot Forms Committee Amid Rising Cases

Earlier, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot formed a committee that would submit a report on students' suicide. "I've called a meeting and formed a committee who would submit a report (on students' suicide)," Gehlot said at the launch of Mission-2030.