Devastating Kota suicides: Why has the coaching town become students’ suicidal venue?

Kota in Rajasthan is well known as the coaching town that sends hundreds of students to IIT institutes every year and hence there is a competition among students to get admission in one of the reputed institutes in Kota.

However, students preparing for IIT and then committing suicide after not scoring well enough in the JEE Mains has become a major cause of concern.

In the last few years, multiple students studying in Kota have committed suicides which is quite alarming and hence has diverted everyone’s attention towards it. As today the global fraternity celebrates World Suicide Prevention Day here are some facts and analysis regarding why India’s coaching town has suddenly become a suicidal venue for students.

High expectations of parents

Most of the students are under extreme pressure to prove themselves and meet the high expectations of their parents. Not everyone is cut for becoming an IIT engineer but many parents just want their children to pursue engineering irrespective of their interest and calibre. Such high expectations are one of the reasons why students commit suicide when their JEE Mains figures are very low.

No screening test

At many authorized institutions or colleges, screening tests are done to check whether the student has the ability to pursue and succeed in a particular career or course. However, no such screening test is conducted at Kota coaching institutes. Students from different cities and schools with varying abilities and backgrounds are accepted. The only criterion here for the entry is the payment of a high amount of fees.

That is why students with less interest in IIT-level studies or the ability to understand such high-level courses fall behind others and start feeling inferior. Reportedly, many even start hating themselves for lacking the ability to crack JEE Mains and ultimately commit suicide.

Discrimination and higher rewards

The reputation of the coaching class in Kota depends on how many students have received admissions to IIT colleges and that is why they aggressively chalk out their strategies to make it happen. From coming up with a high-level syllabus and highly qualified teachers to giving special treatment to intelligent students, the coaching classes try all the tactics to reach their goal and stay ahead of the others.

Students who show the potential of making it to IIT during their class tests are promised monetary rewards, given a special room, maid or servant, and special treatment so that they can focus on their studies without disturbance. However, this discrimination brings a sense of deprivation and neglect among other students who go into self-destruction mode.