Dear Editor,
Kota, the specialized Coaching /training Hub in Rajasthan has again been in news, albeit for the wrong reasons, as two more students ended their lives by committing suicides. This is very sad and distressing. Every years, thousands of students primarily preparing for various competitive exams Like JEE and NEET etc visit Kota to join coaching/ training Centers overt here. In today’s competitive world, academic studies and coaching/training put them under tremendous stress and strain. Additionally parent’s high expectations too add to the pressure of these already burdened students. They expect their children to become Doctors, Engineers, IAS and IPS Officers despite the fact that their interest may lie in some other field. Acute depression emanating from tremendous pressure as well as early warning signals need to be discerned and timely emotional and psychological support provided by expert counselors and psychologists.
Institutional mechanism to address student’s anxiety and worries during exams needs to be in place. Besides, there is an urgent need to make them understand that failure in one Exam is not the end of life. There are possibilities galore in this competitive world and there is nothing to neither lose heart nor take extreme steps like ending one’s life. Taking extreme step is no solution to any problem. Nation can’t afford to lose our brilliant youths like this at their prime age. Life is very precious and must be shielded against all such negative tendencies in our young students by having regular interaction by teachers with them.
All sort of psychological and emotional support at these coaching centers and other educational institutions be provided to them in order to curb such unwanted extreme tendencies. Only collective and timely efforts would go a long way in stemming these negative tendencies in them. Apart from imparting them knowledge and education, students need to be trained to face lives changes boldly and confidently, unwavered by the today’s competition.
Ravi Sharma, Dhariwal
