“Kota District Administration Mandates Spring-Loaded Fans After Student Suicides”

The Kota district administration has ordered the installation of spring-loaded fans in all hostel rooms and paying guest accommodations in response to the increasing number of student suicides caused by mental health issues. The fans are designed to prevent individuals from using them for self-harm. The order also includes measures such as weekly offs for students, psychological evaluations, and the establishment of a suicide prevention committee. The owners of coaching institutes and accommodations will be held responsible if any student commits suicide. The decision comes after an 18-year-old student died by suicide in Kota, bringing the total number of student suicides to 22 this year. The high academic pressures and competitive environment in Kota have contributed to a mental health crisis. Business Today Desk reported

The Kota district administration has taken action in response to the growing issue of student suicides related to mental health problems. The administration has mandated the installation of spring-loaded fans in all hostel rooms and paying guest accommodations in the city. These fans are designed to collapse under a certain amount of weight, preventing individuals from using them for self-harm. The order aims to provide mental support and security to students in these accommodations and to reduce the number of suicides among coaching students.

This order follows a previous one issued in December of last year, which focused on student welfare. The previous order included provisions such as a weekly day off for students, a maximum class size of 80, mandatory psychological evaluations for students and teachers, the establishment of a helpline for students, and the creation of a suicide prevention committee. The new order also holds the owners of coaching institutes, hostels, and paying guest accommodations responsible if any student commits suicide.

In addition to these measures, the district administration has announced plans to conduct psychological tests of coaching students every two weeks. These tests will help identify students with suicidal tendencies so they can receive timely counseling.

The recent order from the Kota district administration comes after the tragic suicide of an 18-year-old boy who had come to Kota to prepare for the JEE Mains exam. This brings the total number of student suicides in Kota to 22 this year, with four cases occurring this month alone. The boy, Valmiki Jangid from Bihar, had been staying in Kota since last year and was studying in a coaching institute.

Kota, known as Rajasthan’s “education city,” has been facing a mental health crisis due to the intense academic pressures and highly competitive environment. While the city produces successful professionals, it also has a distressing number of student suicides. A survey found that four out of every ten students in Kota suffer from depression, highlighting the severity of the problem. The focus on academic performance, separation from family, and inadequate attention to students’ emotional well-being by educational institutions have further exacerbated the mental health situation..