So far in 2023, twenty incidences of student suicide have been documented in higher education institutions (HEIs). There are nine cases from central institutions and seven from IITs among them.
Subhas Sarkar, Union Minister of State for Education, provided the information in response to a written question in the Rajya Sabha. The minister stated that the bulk of suicides reported in the last four years were from technical schools.
According to the data, IITs had the highest number of suicides (39), followed by NITs (25), central universities (25), IIMs (4), IISERs (3), and IIITs (2). According to government data, 20 student suicides have been reported in these colleges so far in 2023, 24 in 2022, seven each in 2021 and 2020, 19 in 2019 and 21 in 2018. In a separate query about category-specific suicides, the statistics revealed that two students from the SC and one from the OBC categories were among the seven cases in IITs this year. Six of the nine cases in central universities included members of the SC, ST, OBC, or minority communities.
In the last two years, no suicides have been recorded from IIMs, SPAs, or IISERs in these categories. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there are several causes of suicide, including career challenges, feelings of loneliness, violence, family troubles, and mental diseases, among others. The government stated that in order to address the issue of mental health and wellness during and after COVID-19, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken different initiatives and issued advice to higher education institutions.
“The UGC has also issued guidelines for promoting physical fitness, sports, students’ health and welfare, psychological and emotional well-being at HEIs,” he added. “In order to alleviate academic stress, the ministry has taken various steps such as peer-assisted learning and the introduction of technical education in regional languages for students.”
“The MANODARPAN initiative, launched by the Government of India, encompasses a wide range of activities aimed at providing psychological support to students, teachers, and families for mental and emotional well-being during the Covid outbreak and beyond.” “The ministry has also advised institutions to strengthen the system, which would include prevention, detection, and corrective measures for addressing potential suicide causes,” the minister stated.
