Every year, thousands of students move to Kota to prepare for competitive examinations like JEE and NEET. Away from their families, the students are left to cope with the intense pressure that is put on them by the institutes. Their schedules are packed, there’s cut-throat competition and the constant need to do better. There are many students who are unable to cope and their mental health goes for a toss.
This year alone, 22 student suicides have been recorded in Kota. This has left the families of the students tensed for the safety of the young ones. As a result, parents and grandparents of many students have moved to Kota to be with them and keep an eye on them, reported Deccan Herald.
Working mothers have taken sabbaticals to be with their kids while their husbands handle things back home. Grandparents have moved in with their grandkids to give them the emotional support they need. Many are pulling students out of hostels and are living in rented apartments.
80-year-old Neeru Devi from Bihar has moved to Kota to be with her grandson to make sure peace is retained back at home.
Sandhya Dwivedi from Madhya Pradesh has also moved to Kota to be with her son.
“Now I worry less. My son studies at night… I give him tea or coffee. He knows I am here to talk to him and comfort him. He was ill twice this month and I was here to take care of him. I want him to crack JEE but I don’t want to lose him in the process… we have been hearing about student suicides and we cannot take that risk,” she said.
Shivani Jain from Chandigarh, who works as a Software Engineer, has moved to Kota to be with her daughter who is preparing for NEET. She has taken a sabbatical from work. Her husband is back home taking care of their son who is in class 5.
“She is in class 11 now. Till she completes her class 12 and ultimately cracks the exam, I will be in Kota with her. If I leave her in a hostel, I won’t be at peace at home,” she said.
In order to curb student suicides, the authorities at Kota installed spring-loaded fans in hostels so that students are unable to hang themselves. This “solution” was heavily discouraged by people, many of whom highlighted that the root of the problem should be addressed, and that is intense academic pressure and the lack of mental health resources in Kota.
Families are being divided because of this issue. We hope the authorities at Kota work towards making a more compassionate environment wherein students are able to thrive.