KC Venugopal, a Congress MP, claims certain study centers have turned into “mafias”. Dharmendra Pradhan, Education Minister, responds.

The rising suicides among students were highlighted by Mr. Venugopal, who pointed out that a Minister had stated in 2023 that 18 students had committed suicide in higher education institutions, including prestigious ones like IITs and IIMs, from 2018 to 2022. He attributed caste discrimination in these institutions as one of the main reasons for this distressing trend.

He urged for urgent attention to this issue. Mr. Venugopal also raised concerns about the safety and regulation of coaching centers nationwide, citing a recent tragedy in New Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar where three students lost their lives in an unapproved and inadequately facilitated coaching center.

He questioned whether the government would take any action against such centers, which he described as having become ‘mafias’. In response, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reassured that the government is committed to the socio-psychological and mental protection of all students, irrespective of the educational institutions they attend.

He acknowledged the complex nature of the issues of student suicides and discrimination and emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach, stating, “This is not an issue to deal with only through allegations and answers.” Mr. Pradhan also mentioned the issuance of updated guidelines by the Government of India in January, as well as the presence of specific regulations by states like Rajasthan, Bihar, and Goa for monitoring and supervising coaching centers.

Finally, a disclaimer was added stating that the story had not been edited by NDTV staff and was published from a syndicated feed.