'Sorry papa, I cannot do JEE': Another student ends life in Kota; 6th case this year

Kota (Rajasthan), March 8: In a tragic incident, Abhishek Kumar, a student from Bihar's Bhagalpur preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) in Kota, Rajasthan, ended his life on Friday. The tragic event marks the sixth such incident in the city this year, known for being a coaching hub for engineering and medical aspirants.

Abhishek's body was found in his rented room in Kota's Vigyan Nagar area. It is being suspected that he consued some poisonous substance. A poignant suicide note addressed to his father read, "Sorry papa, I cannot do JEE." The student had been absent for two exams at his coaching centre, raising concerns about the intense academic pressure faced by students.

Kota, attracting over two lakh students annually for competitive exams like JEE and NEET, has been grappling with a rising number of student suicides. In 2023 alone, the city reported 26 such cases, prompting the local authorities to address the mental health challenges prevailing in the high-pressure academic environment of coaching centres.

Despite efforts by the Central Government and the district administration to provide counselling facilities and alleviate stress among students, the grim reality persists. Last year's toll of 26 student suicides had already raised alarms, and the situation remains dire with six cases reported within the first three months of this year.

Recognising the urgency of the situation, Kota's administration, in collaboration with stakeholders from the coaching industry, initiated various measures last year to tackle the alarming issue of student suicides. One such initiative involved installing "suicide-proofing" fans in hostel rooms, incorporating spring coils that trigger a siren if an object weighing more than 20 kg is hung from them. This safety measure, proposed by the Kota Hostels' Association in 2017, gained traction following a surge in suicides in August last year. Additionally, nets have been strategically placed in balconies and lobbies to prevent students from taking drastic steps. 

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