TISS to study reasons behind stress, depression among Kota students
In the wake of increasing suicide cases in the country’s coveted coaching hub, the state government has hired Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to study the causes that lead to stress and depression among the students.
A four-member team of TISS, led by professor Sujata Shriram, arrived in Kota a couple of days ago to carry out a survey. Talking to HT, Shriram said their team will study the whole ecosystem of the coaching hub — from classrooms to hostels. “We will also talk to clinical psychologists and other stakeholders in wake of the guidelines issued by the district collector of Kota, which mandates week off and recreational activities for students among other measures,” Shriram said.
“We will give questionnaires to students here and hold discussions with them to get their feedback on the issues that affect them here,” she said, adding that they will reveal their findings only after a comprehensive for the next 3 months.
Dr Ravi Kumar Surpur, the district collector, said that after receiving the report from TISS, the administration will give suggestions to the state government on what needs to be done to improve the situation here. “On the basis of the recommendations of the professional agency, guidelines and legal provisions for the coaching institutes will be prepared”, said Surpur.
Around 1.50 lakh coaching students arrives in Kota every year forengineering and medical entrance coaching. Seventeen coaching students have committed suicides in Kota due to study stress, fear of failure in 2016, four less than the year before.