Following the tragic suicides of two NEET aspirants in Kota, a notable development has unfolded. A senior Rajasthan government official conducted a virtual conference with the Kota collector and several other key officials. Notably, representatives from coaching institutes and the hostel association were also present during this significant meeting, which was chaired by Bhawani Singh Detha. Detha holds the position of principal secretary for higher and technical education.
Among the attendees were prominent figures like Kota Collector O P Bunkar, SP Sharad Chaudhary, Additional Collector (Administration) Rajkumar Singh, and Additional SP Bhagwat Singh Hingad. It's worth highlighting that Detha has been entrusted with the role of leading a committee formed under the guidance of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. This committee has been tasked with investigating the pressing issue at hand. Furthermore, plans for the committee to conduct an on-site visit to Kota are in motion, PTI reported.
The Chief Minister's proactive stance was evident on August 18, when he convened a meeting involving all stakeholders. During this session, Gehlot issued a directive for the formation of the committee, with a stipulated timeframe of 15 days for the submission of their report.
In a sobering revelation, the recent suicides of two students dedicated to their competitive exam preparations underscore the gravity of the situation. This heart-wrenching incident occurred within a mere four-hour span. Disturbingly, statistics reveal that 22 students have tragically ended their lives in the year 2023 alone—a record high. This statistic overshadows the figure of 15 suicides reported last year.
Kota, a renowned coaching hub, attracts over two lakh students annually. These students converge in pursuit of rigorous preparations for highly competitive exams such as the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) for engineering institutes and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical colleges.
