21 suicides have been reported so far this year in Kota, the coaching hub of India. In response to this, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot held a meeting with the directors of coaching institutes, police officials, and administrative officers from across the state. Kota, often referred to as the “factory” for engineers and doctors in the country, has seen a rise in suicide cases among students in recent years. The government, along with the district administration, is concerned about the increasing cases of suicides. In light of this, an inspirational video message by Additional SP Thakur Chandrasheel of the Student Police Cell has gone viral on social media.
In the video message, Chandrasheel Thakur motivated the students and appealed to parents not to burden innocent children with high expectations. He also emphasized that having a Plan B alongside Plan A is important. He said, “If you cannot become a doctor, then always have your Plan B ready, because sometimes Plan B turns out to be even better than Plan A.”
The police are now closely monitoring student suicides in Kota. The Student Police Cell has been placed under the supervision of the Crime Branch’s DIG (Deputy Inspector General). Students are assured of police assistance 24/7 if they face any kind of trouble. Chandrasheel Thakur urged students not to give up on their hobbies. He said, “If you like singing, then sing. If you like dancing, then dance. Success does not always require 24 hours of study.”
Experts believe that in most cases, the burden of parents’ expectations weighs heavily on students. Parents often impose their dreams on their children and send them to these challenging exams.
However, each student has their own capabilities, and exceeding these capabilities can lead to stress and, in some cases, tragic outcomes.
