Kota story redux: UMMEED will be hopeless without wider social changes

In October 2023, the Union ministry of education unveiled the draft guidelines Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower, Develop (UMMEED). Are they enough to stop the suicide epidemic among students in India? .—.AS the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) results are out and everyone glances over the banners of victory rising above their heads, the air is filled with a deep sense of fear. A fear swarming the hearts and minds of the aspirants who could not clear it..NEET results for this year came out on June 6. Unlike in the past, the scoreboard this year came along not only with results but also confusion and a string of strange anomalies in marks that need lots of attention and immediate redress..While the National Testing Agency defends its new method of calculating grace marks to investigations waiting around the corner with regard to the paper leak allegation, there is a sense of worry when one thinks about the coaching hub of India, Kota in Rajasthan..“The National Testing Agency is defending its new method of calculating grace marks with regard to the paper leak allegation..Lakhs of students flock yearly to Kota to fulfil the ambition of getting into their dream colleges. These students from across India come to prepare for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and NEET, to fulfil the classic middle-class Indian dream to be a doctor or engineer by bagging a seat in one of the prestigious medical institutions of the country and the Indian Institutes of Technology. Hope and dreams are held so high, wanting to be groomed by the best coaching centres in the country..It is important to look at the data on the number of students joining this race. Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) surveyed more than 1,000 students between the first and second week of October 2023. A report by The Hindu elaborates on this survey. Nearly half the students (46 percent) moved to Kota because of the reputation of its coaching centres, 39 percent moved to the town at their parents' insistence, and 10 percent were influenced by friends who were going to Kota..Also read: A dating app controversy at a leading Indian university prises open a tale of two Indias.In recent years, the coaching capital has bagged the headlines of newspapers not just for the top rankers, but also for the wrong reasons, about the lives lost at the noose of this ambition..In 2023, around 30 students committed suicide in the city, making it sound like a normal affair in the city. It has been only a few days since an 18-year-old jumped off the balcony in Kota after the declaration of NEET results, marking the 10th case of suicide this year..Students preparing in these institutes struggle with unhealthy coaching hours, parental pressure, intense competition and constant competition to excel..What is pulling the trigger?."Sorry Papa", "I tried, but I cannot anymore", and "I am sorry I couldn't fulfil your dreams", are a few lines from several suicide notes written by young kids who have committed suicide in the city..In a report by the Rajasthan government, it was highlighted that the four reasons behind suicides by coaching institute students are a lack of self-confidence due to poor performance in tests at coaching centres; the pressure of parental expectations; physical and mental stress (overall situation); and, lastly, financial constraints, blackmail and love affairs, as reported by Times of India.."Kota sits on a pile of gunpowder, one spark and all the glitter will be reduced to ashes. Buildings will turn into boxes. This city is living at the cost of a dead childhood," a senior police officer says on condition of anonymity to India Today..Students are under a lot of pressure to excel and fulfil their parents' wishes. Many students even get into this rat race from class six or eight. That is the age around which they are persuaded by their parent's wishes and sent to the laboratory of success..The coaching involves strenuous hours of study and constant comparison among peers. The faculty and these institutes put pressure on these students to perform well to bag the title of the topper..“In recent years, the coaching capital has bagged the headlines of newspapers not just for the top rankers, but also for the wrong reasons, about the lives lost at the noose of this ambition..The competition lies not just between the students but also between the coaching institutes in Kota. In addition to the pressure of not failing the parents, there is also the financial burden that adds to the concern..The coaching institutes are a costly affair. The financial investment that goes into this education, especially for children from middle-class families, creates a moral obligation to not just perform well but to even end their lives if they do not clear the exam..Also read: Has the Karnataka hijab ban, which began with a bang, ended in a whimper?.The hectic schedule, lack of social life and constant comparison also push these students into a junkyard of substance abuse and unhealthy coping mechanisms that worsen the situation..How is Kota coping?.In addition to the omnipresent advertisements for coaching centres, helpline numbers are everywhere. Numerous helplines, available 24/7, are advertised across the city, offering listening and counselling services for students..Special police booths cater specifically to students and coaching institutes employ professional psychologists. Yet, despite these measures, Kota continues to witness regular student suicides..In recent times, the Kota administration has resorted to some drastic measures to curb the curse. One is the anti-suicide devices-installed fans. The spring devices make ceiling fans suicide-proof. Installing suicide alarms in ceiling fans which will go off if more than 10 kg of weight is put on it also seems like a choice of help..As bizarre as it sounds, the city has stooped to a level where accommodations have balconies with wired nets installed to prevent students from jumping off. All of these drastic measures in the name of protecting students in a city where education has turned into a business run by schools, coaching centres and apartments seem like a cry for help..In a city with monthly reports of rising suicide cases, the mental health of students should not be hush talk or just another feature to add to the glossy brochures of coaching centres..Even though every life lost in this rat race reminds every one of the importance of choosing oneself over an exam, it only lasts till daylight when Kota's alarm goes off for the first lecture. After all, the city moves on faster from the lives strangled by ambition and continues to run faster toward the finishing line..Kota is not alone. What is the bigger picture?.Kota's story is not of one city alone. It holds a mirror to the face of Indian society. A society that holds that success stories are the only ones worth reading and ambition is not for the faint of the heart who commit suicide. A society where seeking help is a weakness and mental health issues are taboo..Kota tells the story of the helplessness of some students treasuring their ambitions and the cry for help from others who work for their parent's love at the cost of their own lives..Also read: Do teachers have a right to unionise or voice their opinions? Bihar government says no.Over 13,000 students took their lives in India in 2022, according to the report Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India, 2022 released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Students accounted for 7.6 percent of all suicide deaths in 2022..“Students are under a lot of pressure to excel and fulfil their parents' wishes. Many students even get into this rat race from class six or eight..The report also revealed that failure in examinations was the cause of 1,123 suicide deaths for students below the age of 18 years. Out of this, 578 were girls and 575 were boys..Across age groups, 2,095 people died by suicide after failure in examinations. This number was highest in Maharashtra (378), followed by Madhya Pradesh (277) and Jharkhand (174). Karnataka (162) and Gujarat (155) also recorded a high number of suicide deaths caused by failure in examinations..Overall, 10,295 children below the age of 18 years died by suicide in 2022. The number of suicides was slightly higher among girls (5,588) compared to that among boys (4,616)..Struggling students need help. More than ceiling fans with springs and balconies that trap them. They need help that will not mock them for wanting to give up..Help that will not tell them every day that their worth is attached to the scoresheet of their weekly tests. They need parents who will put their kids' lives over glorified institutes and teachers with empathy to understand their struggles..Any help to loosen the noose?.To address the rising concern of self-harm and suicide among students, in October 2023 the Ministry of Education unveiled a set of draft guidelines, known as Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower, Develop (UMMEED) aimed at enhancing sensitivity, understanding and support in such cases..The proposed measures entail the creation of a school wellness team (SWT) tasked with identifying students showing warning signs or at risk of self-harm, promptly addressing their needs and offering assistance..Additionally, the guidelines emphasise the significance of building collaborations among schools, parents and the community to establish a strong support network focused on suicide prevention..In January 2024, new rules for coaching centres were introduced by the department of higher education, ministry of education, government of India, aiming to address several issues contributing to the rising number of student suicides, particularly in the coaching hub of Kota..The proposed measures for coaching centres encompass several key aspects aimed at enhancing the overall well-being and academic environment. Firstly, there is a prohibition on enrolling students below the age of 16, a move intended to alleviate early academic pressure on younger individuals who may not possess the psychological resilience necessary to navigate the intense competition and stress prevalent in such environments..Also read: A female student's death in Punjabi University lifts the fog on respiratory pandemic in North India.Additionally, there is a ban on misleading promises in advertisements, ensuring that coaching centres refrain from making false claims or guaranteeing specific ranks or high marks, thereby preventing students and parents from harbouring unrealistic expectations that could contribute to stress and disappointment..Furthermore, there are stringent requirements regarding tutors' qualifications, mandating that they possess at least a graduation degree to uphold a certain standard of teaching and guidance..In terms of mental health support, coaching centres are mandated to establish counselling systems staffed with trained psychologists to provide the necessary support to students, with clear communication of available services to both students and parents. Tutors themselves are also encouraged to undergo training on mental health issues to effectively address students' concerns sensitively..“The competition lies not just between the students but also between the coaching institutes in Kota..In addition to this, fee regulation measures ensure that fees charged by coaching centres are fair and reasonable, with provisions for refunds in the event of a student leaving the course early..Operational transparency is emphasised through the maintenance of updated websites detailing tutors' qualifications, course offerings, facilities and fee structures, while centres are required to register with state governments and comply with monitoring guidelines..Physical infrastructure requirements mandate the provision of a safe environment, including separate toilets for male and female students and accessibility features for students with disabilities..Additionally, mechanisms for addressing student complaints and grievances, such as complaint boxes or registers, are to be established to ensure accountability and redressal..Overall, these comprehensive measures aim to create a supportive and conducive learning environment while safeguarding the well-being of students..New solutions, new roadblocks.However, in the realm of coaching centres, the implementation and continuous monitoring of regulations emerge as paramount challenges..Without stringent oversight, uniform enforcement becomes doubtful, potentially fostering loopholes and persisting malpractices. Moreover, while the proposed rules target immediate issues within coaching centres, broader cultural and systemic shifts are imperative to reshape societal perceptions of education and achievement..Also read: Should teachers be included in the definition of 'workman' under the Industrial Disputes Act?.Addressing the stigma surrounding mental health and mitigating the overwhelming expectations placed on students by both parents and society are integral aspects of this transformation..Additionally, concerns arise regarding the scope of application, with suggestions that larger coaching centres with residential facilities might be primarily affected, leaving smaller local centres relatively untouched..“Special police booths cater specifically to students and coaching institutes employ professional psychologists. Yet, despite these measures, Kota continues to witness regular student suicides..Ensuring universal compliance across all coaching centre types is vital for effective regulation. Balancing financial interests with student welfare necessitates careful navigation, highlighting the delicate equilibrium required in policy implementation..In conclusion, the stories from Kota paint a stark picture of the toll academic stress can take on young lives, with self-harm and suicide becoming distressingly common among students..However, amidst this grim reality, there is a glimmer of hope offered by the UMMEED guidelines and new coaching centre rules..While challenges in implementation and cultural shifts remain, the commitment to prioritising student well-being is evident. But the crucial thing is for society as a whole to realise that there is a problem that needs to be tackled..“Proposed measures entail the creation of a school wellness team (SWT) tasked with identifying students showing warning signs or at risk of self-harm, promptly addressing their needs and offering assistance..As long as we close our eyes to pretend that everything is okay, things will not change and we have to keep counting the number of lives that are strangled by this noose every year.