Another Suicide At Kota: When Will This Stop?
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
View all posts by this Author
By Linus Garg
First publised on 2024-01-31 03:36:08
About the Author
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
View all posts by this Author
In yet another disturbing incident in Kota, a young IIT/JEE aspirant committed suicide as she felt that she was a loser. Overwhelmed by the coaching shop culture that makes severe demands and puts immense pressure on these young minds without the help of scientific counseling that can guide them and prepare them for what lies ahead, the girl just ended up taking her life.
In a note to her parents, she wrote that since she could not see herself clearing the exam, she felt she was a loser and the worst daughter. But disturbingly, she also wrote that suicide was the only option before her. Who puts in the minds of our youth that they are losers if they do not clear an exam? And that suicide is the only option if they fail to crack this or that exam?
While the entire system is to blame for this but a major part of the blame lies with the parents. They drill in the minds of the youngsters that since they are providing them an opportunity that is beyond the means of the family, they expect them to crack the exams. But the parents have to realize that however much they might spend in providing their wards the best coaching and however much they might like them to get into an IIT, the fact is that out of the nearly 10 lakh aspirants every year, only 25000-30000 qualify and only 10000, that is only 1%, get into one of the 23 IITs. Hence it is diabolical to put so much pressure on the youngsters.
Although the government had recently come out with new rules for registration and regulation of coaching centres, they fall short of what is really needed. It is good to protect the childhood and ensure holistic development of children below 16, provide minimum standards for coaching centres and ensure that they have quality teachers and counseling set up. But it is also needed to ensure that the counseling provided in not a sham. For, counselors hired by the centres are unlikely to guide the students properly.
Does life end in one does not qualify or does not get admitted to an IIT? Why do students feel they are losers when lakhs of their peers also fail to qualify? And why do they take the extreme step of ending their life? These are questions which need answers and the whole system is to blame. Society needs to take corrective action otherwise more young lives will be sacrificed.
