A recent tragedy at the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) has brought attention to a growing crisis: student suicides in India. On September 9, 2024, Bimlesh Kumar, a third-year B.Tech student, was found dead in his hostel room, which led to protests throughout IITs to bring in some reform and help the pressured students. The rate of increasing student suicised in india is alarming and should matter to all of us.
A disturbing trend
The worrying rise in student suicides has been documented extensively. Reports indicate that 14 students committed suicide in Kota alone this year, with 26 incidents recorded in 2023. Data from previous years shows a troubling trend: 15 incidents in 2022, 18 in 2019, 20 in 2018, 17 in 2017, and 18 in 2016.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recently revealed that the student suicide rate in India has surpassed both the population growth rate and overall suicide trends. While the general suicide rate has increased by 2% annually, student suicides have surged by 4%.
In 2022, over 90,000 student suicides were recorded in India, with male students accounting for 53% of these cases. The IC3 Institute's report highlighted that between 2021 and 2022, male student suicides decreased by 6%, while female student suicides increased by 7%. The statistics are stark: from 6,654 student suicides in 2012 to a staggering 13,044 in 2022. According to the data presented by the Education Minister, of the 122 students who died by suicide from 2014-21, 58% were from OBC, SC, ST, and minority communities.
The crisis in numbers
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have not been immune to this crisis. Since 2005, at least 115 IIT students have died by suicide. A recent RTI query revealed that IIT Madras recorded the highest number of deaths at 26, followed by IIT Kanpur with 18 and IIT Kharagpur with 13. This year alone has seen five deaths across various IITs.
The recent case was the fourth case this year of the death of a student in Guwahati campus itself. A 24-year-old MTech student from Uttar Pradesh was found dead in her hostel room on August 9. Police didn't reveal anything about their investigation.
On April 10, a 20-year-old student from Bihar was found dead hostel. While the institute’s authorities claimed he died by suicide, his parents alleged he was ragged and murdered and demanded a high-level probe into the matter. In 2022, the institute saw two student suicides and a mysterious death.
One of the main reasons students take this extreme decision is academic pressure. Some of it is self-inflicted but a good part of it comes from professors and the administration collectively turning a blind eye to a lot of things.
In internal surveys conducted by various IIT student organizations after February 2023, 61% of respondents believed that student deaths were due to academic stress. This was followed by job insecurity (12%), family issues (10%) and harassment (6%). Eleven percent of students ticked the ‘Other Reasons’ column.
Many students face immense stress due to strict attendance requirements - like the mandatory 75% attendance rule - students report that despite excelling in exams, they have failed courses due to low attendance. One student shared, “In our batch, at least 200 students failed due to low attendance. This is unacceptable.”
A student also claimed, “Hypothetically, you have spheres like cultural programmes that are supposed to relieve stress. But, it does not exist in reality. For example, Saarang, our annual cultural fest, has sponsorship and public relations teams. These teams are considered to be very coveted and if you looked at the members of these teams you would see all of them having the same upper-caste, extremely wealthy, tier-one city and urban background.”
“The interview process to get into these teams is not explicitly casteist, but you have to pass the so-called ‘vibe check’. The vibe check is being able to speak English fluently, rapidly, and idiomatically, fitting in with the tier-1 city expectations. If you don't pass the vibe check, no matter how good your ideas might be, you will not make it to the team. And there is a specific word that they use - which is common in IIT Madras - ‘chhapri’.”
It is supposed to mean 'very tacky' and refers to people from tier 2 cities who don't speak English very well.
Necessary actions
The lack of adequate mental health resources is a significant concern. The Delhi High Court recently called for a review of mandatory attendance requirements, noting their potential negative impact on students' mental health. Experts emphasize that institutions need to prioritize mental health support and create an environment where students feel safe seeking help.
Dr. Vinod Dariya from Kota Medical College highlighted the urgent need for trained counselors in coaching institutes and educational settings. He noted that many students come from low-income families burdened by parental expectations to succeed academically.
Ganesh Kohli, founder of the IC3 Movement, stated, “Our educational focus must shift to fostering the competencies of our learners such that it supports their overall well-being.” The need for comprehensive mental health support systems within schools and colleges is more pressing than ever. As statistics show an alarming increase in suicides among students - one occurring every hour - it's crucial for educational institutions to adopt flexible policies and prioritize mental health resources. Even Bimlesh’s father pointed “If the college had hired a psychiatrist, this wouldn't have happened. How can they be so negligent?”
The tragic death of Bimlesh Kumar is a stark reminder of the urgent need for change within India's educational system. As more students struggle under academic pressure without adequate support, it becomes imperative for institutions to foster an environment that prioritizes mental health and well-being over mere academic success. The time for action is now; we must ensure that no more lives are lost to this growing epidemic among students.
Comments