A student from Assam's Nagaon died by suicide in Rajasthan's Kota on Wednesday morning. The body of the student, identified as Parag, was found at his home in Mahaveer Nagar.
This marks the second suicide of the day and the sixth this month, heightening concerns over a potential rise in student suicides in Kota, a hub for students preparing for competitive university entrance exams.
Hours earlier, the body of Afsha Sheikh, a young woman from Ahmedabad, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her hostel room in the Jawahar Nagar area. She had come to Kota to study for the NEET exams (for medical college admission). A post-mortem has been ordered, and her family has been informed, according to the police.
Four other student suicides have been reported this month, starting with the death of 19-year-old Neeraj, who was studying for the Indian Institute of Technology’s JEE entrance exam, on January 7. The following day, 20-year-old Abhishek, also a JEE aspirant, was found dead.
On January 16, 18-year-old Abhijeet, who aimed to be a doctor, died by suicide, and 18-year-old Manan Sharma followed suit a day later, just four days before his JEE exam.
Last year, 17 student suicides were reported in Kota, excluding those by school students, which was a 38% decrease from the 23 confirmed suicides in 2023.
The issue of student suicides has long plagued coaching hubs like Kota, sparking controversy and criticism, especially from opposition parties. The government’s response, however, has often lacked the necessary sensitivity.
Last week, after the fourth suicide of the month, Rajasthan’s Education Minister Madan Dilawar suggested "love affairs" as one of the reasons behind the suicides, also urging parents not to force their children into pursuing degrees and careers they did not desire.
Every year, between one and two lakh students flock to Kota, hoping to secure high ranks in competitive exams and launch lucrative careers. This has led to a highly profitable industry; despite a slight reduction in the number of students this year, coaching centres in Kota generated over ₹3,500 crore in revenue last year.
However, student suicides harm the business, and in December, the state government announced new measures to address the issue, including stricter laws for coaching centres, hostels, and student accommodations.
Additional steps, such as sensitivity training for hostel wardens and suicide helplines, were also introduced and credited with helping reduce deaths.
Suicide is not the solution and If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or are concerned about a friend or need emotional support, there is always someone ready to listen. Contact :
Sneha Foundation at 04424640050 (available 24/7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline, at 9152987821 (available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm).
Follow us
