New Delhi: The number of students who died by suicide across the country increased from 10,335 in 2019, to 12,526 in 2020, and 13,089 in 2021, the government told parliament on Tuesday, December 5.Citing data from the National Crime Records Bureau, Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Abbaiah Narayanaswamy informed the parliament that a total of 35,950 students had died by suicide between 2019 and 2021.The government presented the data in parliament in response to a question asked by a Janata Dal (United) MP, who specifically sought information about SC/ST students who died by suicide due to social discrimination. However, Narayanaswamy said the government does not have specific information regarding social discrimination leading to suicides.On steps being taken by the government to prevent social discrimination, the minister said the department of higher education has established counseling cells and various mechanisms such as SC/ST students’ cells, equal opportunity cells, students’ grievance cells, students’ grievance committee, and liaison officers in educational institutions across the country, according to Hindustan Times.“Further, the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act 1955, that prescribes punishment for enforcement of any disability arising from the practice of ‘untouchability’, and the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) (PoA) Act, 1989, is in force to prevent the commission of offenses of atrocities against members including students of SCs and STs,” he added.The number of students who died by suicide in India rose by 70% between 2011 and 2021, as reported by The Wire earlier. The share of students among India’s overall suicide victims has also increased. It stood at 8% of the total in 2021, having grown by 2.3 percentage points since 2011.If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. The Suicide Prevention India Foundation maintains a list of telephone numbers they can call to speak in confidence. Icall, a counselling service run by TISS, has maintained a crowdsourced list of therapists across the country. You could also take them to the nearest hospital.
