Star students and coaching centres literally become posterboys and girls for a burgeoning industry worth some ₹5,000 crore annually, of which about ₹700 crore go into tax contributions. This is big money.
This is also big worry. Apart from the sliver of ‘proud, happy’ stories, most candidates don’t make the cut in a terrain where demand from aspirants far outstrips supply of institutional seats. Then there is the growing number unable to cope with the load, cut-throat competition, and expectations from family and peers.
This toxic cocktail has, till this Sunday, already claimed 23 young lives from Kota itself, up from 15 deaths last year. Spring-loaded fans and anti-suicide nets have been put in student accommodations. Meanwhile, Rajasthan authorities have stopped exams for two months, counselling helplines have been set up, and a ‘half-day study, half-day fun’ routine has been set up one weekday a week to wean students off ‘studdiction’.
While these steps and suggestions are welcome, they may not be enough to stop students from causing self-harm. Urgent steps need to be taken to tackle the demand side of the problem – performance anxiety of students and high expectations that parents and family place on them, and they place on themselves. Until youngsters understand that while a JEE-NEET seat is worth giving their best shot, it’s not the be-all and end-all. Certainly not the latter.
