To curb the rising student suicides in Kota, the district administration has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure the implementation of regulatory guidelines for coaching centres, hostels, and paying guest accommodations. This comes nine months after the Rajasthan government directed districts to establish protocols to protect students' mental health.
The Rajasthan State Higher Education Department's guidelines, issued on September 28, mandated the creation of district-level SOPs to ensure effective and timely execution. These guidelines were a response to the alarming number of suicides among students preparing for competitive exams like the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). So far this year, at least 13 students have taken their own lives, compared to 27 last year, the highest since 2015.
Kota District Collector Ravindra Goswami explained that the new SOP aims to streamline the monitoring process and ensure compliance with the guidelines. A key feature is introducing a digital portal that will assign a unique alpha-numeric ID to each student by July 15. This ID will help track students' attendance and backgrounds, creating a centralized system even if they switch institutions or leave Kota.
Coaching centres must report to the Kota Students’ Cell or the District Monitoring Cell within three days if a student skips classes. Additionally, a dedicated team from each coaching centre will visit students at their hostels or pay guest accommodations to address their adaptation issues. There will also be mandatory psychological and career counselling sessions for students and their guardians.
To further support students, the SOP mandates that coaching centres offer free refunds and accessible exits in cases of mandatory deportation. Hostels must install anti-hanging devices in ceiling fans, and all facilities must have Dropboxes for complaints and display helpline numbers prominently.
Kota, the hub of India’s test-prep industry, attracts thousands of students annually, contributing to an estimated ₹10,000 crore business. The intense pressure and isolation from family often lead to stress and mental health issues among these students.
Over the years, the number of student suicides in Kota has fluctuated, with a significant rise following the reopening of physical classes post-pandemic. The state government's guidelines include mandatory screening tests, alphabetical student sorting, and training for staff to recognize behavioural changes. The Union Education Ministry has also issued specific guidelines, including penalties for non-compliance, which are currently under judicial review.
Collector Goswami emphasized that the new SOP covers most state and central government guidelines. The district administration expects all stakeholders to update them on their compliance steps by Monday.