Rajasthan: What Do We Know About 23 Students Who Died Of Suicide This Year In Kota?

KOTA: In Rajasthan's Kota, there has been a spurt in the cases of students committing suicide.

So far this year 23 students have died of suicide. This is the first time since 2015 that students have committed suicide in such numbers.

According to police data, 15 students died by suicide in Kota in 2022, 18 in 2019, 20 in 2018, seven in 2017, 17 in 2016, and 18 in 2015. No suicide took place in 2020 and 2021, apparently due to Corona.

Kota is considered the hub of engineering and medical coaching. Every year thousands of children come here for coaching for engineering and medical entrance exams.

Most of students were from poor families

But this year, out of the 23 students who died of suicide in Kota, more than half were minors. Besides, most of them were from poor or lower middle class families.

Among the students who committed suicide, there were children of barbers, car cleaners and some and small farmers.

12 students died of suicide within 6 months of reaching Kota

There were 12 students who died of suicide within six months of reaching Kota. Out of 23 students who committed suicide, 19 were boys, four were girls. These students were from North India, especially Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

15 year old was youngest student to end life

The youngest student to die of suicide was from Bulandshahr, aged 15 years. The student had come to Kota only a month ago.

On the basis of data provided by Kota administration, it is said that at present around 2.25 lakh students in Kota are preparing for NEET or JEE.

These students live in 4000 hostels or 5000 registered PGs.

Committee formed 

Rajasthan government has banned coaching institutes from conducting tests for two months.

The government has also constituted a committee under the leadership of the Principal Secretary. This committee has to submit its report in 15 days.

A few days ago, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot had said about the suicides in Kota, "We have formed a committee. The committee will submit the report in 15 days.”

Dist admin to assess mental health of students

Meanwhile, amidst rising cases of student suicides in Rajasthan's Kota, the district administration has prepared a questionnaire for students, which would ascertain if the students are struggling with depression.

According to the details, the marks obtained in the paper would decide how students of Kota are victims of depression, anxiety and stress.

The questionnaire would contain a total of 21 questions in Hindi and English, in connection with signs and symptoms of stress.