‘Missing’ IIT-Roorkee student turns up at Delhi home Kautilya Singh - TNN

‘Missing’ IIT-Roorkee student turns up at Delhi home

Kautilya Singh,TNN | Sep 16, 2015, 09.51 PM IST

DEHRADUN: The IIT-Roorkee student, who had fled from the institute's hostel leaving behind a 'suicide' note on September 6, returned to his Delhi residence on Wednesday morning. 

Haridwar SSP Sweety Agarwal told TOI that the father of Ashok Kumar Meena, BTech final year student in Electronics and Communication branch at IIT-Roorkee, had informed the police about his return. 

"We had been searching for Ashok and his location was traced to Allahabad. I had spoken to a senior police official of the UP district over the issue," the SSP said. 

She added that Ashok's father Ram Kumar Meena, who is a Delhi police inspector, told her his son had returned safely but was unwilling to disclose the reason for his decision to flee. "Ram said his son had returned safely at their Delhi residence but was not willing to speak anything about the reasons that prompted him to run away. Ashok has yet not stated the reason behind running away from the prestigious institute and the places he visited. All Ashok said was that he had gone to Allahabad," said the senior police official. 

The student had packed all his clothes before leaving the institute. While probing the matter, Haridwar police had collected footage of some CCTV cameras in which he was seen carrying a big bag on his back. 

The matter came to the fore when chief warden of the institute, H S Upadhyay, approached Roorkee police station the same day and lodged a 'missing' complaint. 

Haridwar police said Ashok had fled from the institute last year also and reached Haridwar, just before he was due to make a presentation. 

IIT-R student still missing: Haridwar cops - TNN

IIT-R student still missing: Haridwar cops

TNN | Sep 8, 2015, 09.52 PM IST

DEHRADUN: Two days after he fled from the IIT-Rookee hostel leaving behind a 'suicide note', Haridwar police are still looking for the final year BTech student, Ashok Kumar Meena, who is incidentally, the son of Delhi Police inspector Ram Kumar Meena.

Ashok allegedly ran away from his hostel accommodation at IIT-Roorkee on Sunday, leaving behind a note which said: "I am quitting life... I am sorry if my actions hurt anyone." The final year BTech student in Electronics and Communication was last seen in Roorkee and sources said he may be in Haridwar, but the cops are yet to find him.

His father, who is currently posted in Delhi police security, has reached Haridwar to join the search operation.

The matter came to light when chief warden of the prestigious institute, H S Upadhyay, approached the Roorkee police station on Sunday evening and lodged a 'missing' complaint.

Ashok was reportedly due to submit a presentation in college. Haridwar police said this wasn't the first time that presentation-induced fear had made him flee. 

Mystery Shrouds Death of 30-year-old Techie - New Indian Express

Mystery Shrouds Death of 30-year-old Techie

By Express News Service

Published: 04th September 2015 05:51 AM

BENGALURU:A 30-year-old software engineer died after she was found unconscious in her flat in an apartment complex in Devarabeesanahalli on Outer Ring Road in Southeast Bengaluru on Thursday.

Chetana Ramachandran

The deceased has been identified as Chetana Ramachandran, a native of Chandigarh. Chetana was working as a senior staff with First Flight courier service in Vimanapura. She was a resident of Sobha Iris apartment. She was married to Ramachandran, a software engineer in a private firm in Pune, for four years and the duo have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. She has been living separately from her husband for the past six months and had filed for divorce.

According to police, Chetana’s maid Usha saw the victim lying unconscious in the bathroom and informed neighbours.  She told the police, “I came to work and the main door was open and I walked in around 9 am. She had vomited and her son was sleeping in the room.”

Neighbours called a doctor from a nearby hospital and later shifted her to a nearby private hospital. “She breathed her last a little while later and we suspect that she might have consumed poison. However, we are awaiting the postmortem reports to ascertain the cause of her death,” police said.

Chetana was an alumna of IIT Madras. A senior police official said, “We have informed Chetana’s parents and her husband, who are on their way. We are also analysing her call record details to ascertain the possible motive behind her death.”

Police have registered the case.

Sought After,but Given up Easy - Indian Express

Sought After,but Given up Easy

By Diana Sahu

Published: 31st August 2015 06:00 AM

Started with an aim of fostering excellence in technical education, grand brand IIT is gradually losing its sheen. While faculty crisis and decline in the quality of courses have always remained a matter of concern for the country’s finest technical education chain, the new problem that is making the IITs’ bag of woes heavier is the student dropout rate.

Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani informed the Lok Sabha recently that in the past three academic sessions, 2,060 students dropped out of various IITs. While 757 students dropped out in 2014-15 in the middle of their course, the number was 697 in 2013-14 and 606 in 2012-13.

The reasons, as the HRD Minister put it, are many: from shifting to other institutions to studying abroad or getting jobs during MTech and extreme academic stress.

While academicians agree with Irani, they add that the dropout number is low as far as undergraduate courses are concerned. 

Director of IIT-Roorkee Prof Pradipta Banerji says of the 575 students who opted out of the institution in the last three academic sessions, undergrads were a miniscule percentage. “A majority of this number are actually students who had enrolled for MTech or PG programmes in IIT-Roorkee, who got jobs or cleared the Indian Engineering Services. Many MTech students consider the IIT platform as a stopgap arrangement till they get their desired job,” he said. The institute, which was the seventh IIT to come up in the country, had recently expelled 73 BTech students for scoring a CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) that was less than five, in their first year.

Students quitting mid-course has become a veritable trend, according to Director-in-charge IIT-Delhi, Prof Kshitij Gupta. The man at the helm of the institute that had 448 dropouts in the past three years, said, “In the undergraduate level, every student who joins an IIT is usually a topper. However, when he/she steps into the institution, they face a feeling of being one among many and that is coupled with the pressure to perform.”

Down South and in the East, there were only eight dropouts from IIT-Madras in 2013-14 and as far as IIT-Bhubaneswar is concerned, 16,15 and four students dropped out of the institution in 2014-15, 2013-14 and 2012-13 academic years respectively.

Prof Ratnam V Raja Kumar, Director of IIT-Bhubaneswar, said that there are instances where even after qualifying for the IIT, students sometime take the JEE again for a better rank or a preferred branch. “We have also come across some students who after admission mention that they cannot financially afford education at an IIT. In my opinion, this is affordable and there are avenues like bank loans and merit-based scholarships available for a significant percentage of them; financial weakness need not be a reason,” he stated, adding that lack of communication skills and inability to cope with the academic rigour leads only to a small percentage of the dropouts.

Communication Chasm

Language is a barrier for students from SC, ST and OBC categories, as they usually come from a Hindi medium background. Although they score well in the IIT-JEE qualifying examination, they do not perform well in the classroom because of language issues. “Such students find it tough in following the lectures, as the medium of instruction in IITs is English and the books are mostly by American authors. But if counselled properly in the first year, they are able to overcome this,” explained Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director of IIT-Madras. He suggested that hand-holding exercises like organising language proficiency classes for such students is the need of the hour — as this can cut academic stress massively. Ramamurthi added that while the average graduation grade in the four-year BTech degree is around 7, students from reserved categories score around 6.5.

pressure points

Following a spate of suicides in the IITs, the HRD Ministry constituted a task force, chaired by veteran educationist, M Ananda Krishnan. The Ananda Krishnan Committee had in its report in 2012 pointed out that stress due to personal problems, family issues, poor results and inability to cope up with the IIT education system were major reasons behind the suicides. Apparently, the Union HRD Minister also pointed out that academic stress continues to be a reason behind the dropout rate. Often, students even opt out to join lower tier institutions.

IIT-Bhubaneswar’s Director feels that a small percentage of them who are weak in conceptual understanding in Plus Two education do find academics stressful. “Such students would discontinue studies after a few months or after the first semester or the first year of education at an IIT but certainly not before registering for other courses,” says Prof Kumar. He, however, adds that such cases are rare as IIT regulations provide a good scope for weak students to tackle things at a slow pace. “Such students can take a few years more than the stipulated four years for BTech degree and do it at their own pace, subject to a maximum permissible period,” he explained.

While the committee had called for the appointment of counsellors in all the IITs, the directors said measures to meet the counselling needs of students are already in place in their institutions. “At IIT-Bhubaneswar, we are going to arrange prior counselling by senior students and faculty members for those who get selected. After their joining, we will identify those who are academically weak, keep track of them and provide remedial education to see that they do not go off track or lag behind,” says Prof Kumar, adding that it is desirable that students give importance to their own choice of subjects while picking a branch of study rather than going by what peers or seniors say.

To ensure that no one loses out due to students quitting, the IITs have had an ‘exit policy’ in place since 2012. Under this, if a student surrenders his seat, his registration fee will be refunded. The seat can then be allotted to another student in the waiting list. However, as catching up with the course is difficult, not many candidates in the waiting list join the elite institutions.

spreading worry

It isn’t just the IITs that have trouble. A whopping 2,352 students dropped out of the 30 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) during the three-year period. However, the dropout figure came down to 717 in 2014-15 as compared to 785 in 2013-14 and 850 in 2012-13. Will the tide be turned against this outflow soon?

— diana@newindianexpress.com

Two deaths and an attempted suicide later, IIT-B upgrades on-campus student support system - Mid Day

Two deaths and an attempted suicide later, IIT-B upgrades on-campus student support system

By Shreya Bhandary |Posted 26-Aug-2015

 76 0 1 0 0

Besides deploying counsellors in hostels, institute is allowing families of distressed students to stay with them on campus for a few days; students claim nothing much has changed

In the wake of two deaths and an attempted suicide on IIT-B campus in less than a year, the management has taken steps to ensure that students don’t feel stressed or get bogged down by academic or other pressures.

Representation pic/thinkstock

From hiring counsellors to making arrangements for families of stressed students to stay with them for a few days, the institute is deploying various methods to ensure that students are offered a strong support system.

One such method is the appointment of a counsellor to work from hostels. This counsellor is easily approachable as per students’ convenience. “We realised students felt uncomfortable while visiting counsellors at their offices in the main building, so we made arrangements for a counsellor to work from the hostels.

This counsellor moves form one hostel to another on a rotational basis and ensures more interaction with the students,” said Soumyo Mukherji, dean, student affairs, IIT-B, adding, “Since the counsellor is in the hostel, several students freely approach the counsellor. Some of the students simply visit so that they can chat with the counsellor.”

Currently, two counsellors work on IIT-B’s payroll and the third has been hired on a contractual-basis. According to figures given by institute officials, the number of students seeking help from counsellors has increased over the years. At present, on an average, two different counsellors conduct 120 to 130 sessions a month.

Of these, 25 sessions are dedicated to first timers, while the remaining ones are follow-ups. Officials added the number of students attending group workshops on stress management has increased by over 50 per cent due to word-of-mouth publicity, as most of the workshops have yielded positive results for distressed students.

“There are several measures that we are trying to implement, but most of these are still ideas and we want to ensure they are implemented well and benefit our students. For now, students are busy with the orientation programmes and we want them to know that the institute is always there to help them,” Mukherji said.

Counter view
While the institute claims it is implementing all possible measures to strengthen the support system, students have questioned the impact that the counselling sessions have had. 

“The institute may or may not be responsible in certain cases when students take extreme steps.

But, in case of a suicidal attempt or a death, the administration’s reaction has always been far from what it should have been. There is a need for change in the way our problems are treated. Counselling isn’t the only solution,” said a third-year student.

Cases

June 2015: A 23-year-old MTech student, pursuing degree in Earth Sciences, tried to end his life when he was alone in his room at Hostel 5. His mates claimed that after the initial attempt to commit suicide by hanging failed, the student popped some pills. He was immediately rushed to the IIT-Bombay Hospital and later to the Hiranandani Hospital in Powai, where he finally recovered.

May 2015: Jitesh Sharma, a third-year chemical engineering student, was found dead on the terrace of one of the hostels on May 2. The 21-year-old was reportedly suffering from depression and was undergoing counselling for over six months. Sharma’s body was found around 7 pm on the terrace of Hostel 15-B. He, however, resided in Hostel 8.

September 2014: Aniket Ambhore (22), a fourth-year student pursuing a dual degree in electrical engineering, died after falling from the sixth floor of Hostel 13. Aniket was immediately rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar, where he was declared dead on arrival. It is still unclear whether it was an accident or a suicide.

- See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/two-deaths-and-an-attempted-suicide-later-iit-b-upgrades-on-campus-student-support-system/16485192#sthash.FYVAEzTZ.dpuf

Kota IIT-aspirant's suicide case twists; cops say it’s accident

Kota IIT-aspirant's suicide case twists; cops say it’s accident

• HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, Kota| Updated: Aug 13, 2015 11:37 IST

Mother of Yogesh Johare, an IIT-aspirant studying in Kota who allegedly committed suicide, grieves outside the postmortem room in Kota on Wednesday. Police have now said the death was due to a fire accident during a chemistry experiment Yogesh was trying out. (HT Photo/AH Zaidi)

In less than 24 hours of declaring that a coaching student had committed suicide by jumping off his hostel building after setting himself on fire in Kota, investigators on Wednesday said it could just be an accident.

Yogesh Johare, 17, a resident of Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, who was taking coaching for the IIT-JEE in Kota, could have caught fire while attempting a chemistry experiment in his room and fallen from the building while trying to extinguish the fire, police as well as the boy’s family said.

The dead boy’s parents, Sitaram Johare and Usha Johare, arrived in Kota on Wednesday, and later the postmortem was conducted on the body in their presence.

Sitaram said they visited the hostel room of their son in Mahaveer Nagar III area of Kota city along with police, who had sealed it on Tuesday.

Insisting that Yogesh could not commit suicide, he said no suicide note was found from the room.

Instead, a tiffin box, a glass, a teaspoon, a bottle filled with turpentine oil, another bottle partially filled and some oil spread around the room, along with a notebook mentioning chemistry equations, were found from the room, he said.

The room’s condition and the recovered items suggested that Yogesh might have attempted some chemistry experiment in which he caught fire and later jumped off the building to extinguish it, the father said.

“My son might be conducting some kind of chemistry experiment related to temperature,” he said. “If he wanted to commit suicide then why only 100 ml of turpentine oil was empty from one bottle.”

The mother revealed that their son had the habit of conducting science experiments at their home in Chhindwara. “My son was lively and got 73% marks in Class 12, so there was no point for committing suicide,” said the weeping mother.

The father said Yogesh had called him on the night of August 10, a day before his death, and he did not appear disturbed at all. Yogesh had arrived in Kota on July 20 for the coaching.

Assistant sub inspector and investigation officer in the case, Ramesh Chand Bhargava said that after talking to the boy’s parents and the investigation of the spot, the death appears to be an accident instead of suicide.

The student had received severe head injuries after falling on the ground which claimed his life, he said, adding that forensic test of the items recovered from the boy’s room would be done for the detailed investigation.

Kota: 17-year-old IIT aspirant commits suicide

Kota: 17-year-old IIT aspirant commits suicide

Posted on: 11:06 AM IST Aug 12, 2015 | Updated on: 11:36 am,Aug 12,2015 IST

Kota: A young IIT aspirant committed suicide in Rajasthan's coaching hub Kota on Wednesday. This takes the number of student suicides in Kota in the past three months to 6.

Yogesh Johare, 17, belonged to Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. According to the police, he immolated himself and then jumped from the third floor of his private hostel building.

The forensic team, though, has not found any suicide note from his room.

The police are investigating the matter to identify if it was due to stress or some other reason that Johare committed suicide. Johare had joined IIT coaching on July 14.

IIT student ends her life in Andhra - The Statesman

IIT student ends her life in Andhra

PTI

Kadapa (AP), | 11 August, 2015

Representational Image (Getty Images)

A final year female student from the Edupulapaya campus of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) here allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide, police said on Tuesday.

V Bharathi, a native of Kurnool district and student of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), took the extreme step last evening at her hostel room following which she was rushed to the resident doctor in the campus, they said.

She was later shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical sciences (RIMS) hospital here, where she breathed her last while undergoing treatment, police said.

A suicide note was recovered from her room along with some messages on her cell phone, said Pulivendula Rural CI Maheswar Reddy.

Police suspect it to be case of suicide due to failure in love.

The postmortem of the victim will be done later in the day and further investigations are on, the CI added.

Read more at http://www.thestatesman.com/news/india/iit-student-ends-her-life-in-andhra/81818.html#GiQ41CgqPf7J13Wt.99

Academic Stress, Reason for Students Calling it Quits in IITs, NITs

Academic Stress, Reason for Students Calling it Quits in IITs, NITs

• NYOOOZ Chennai Thu,06 Aug 2015

Summary: Unable to cope with the system and stress could be the main reasons for the dropouts,” said an IIT Delhi professor. I am sure that they will respond to the government  of India soon,” Irani said in the Lok Sabha. She added, “Let me reiterate here the commitment of the government to ensure that within these IITs, we will ensure that the mechanism to deal with academic stress and the mechanism to help weaker students to strengthen themselves.

CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: More than 4,400 students dropped out of IITs and NITs in the last three years due to various reasons including “academic stress”, the government said on Wednesday and assured that corrective actions have been initiated.Once an IIT student drops out of his/her course at any point, the seat remains vacant till the end of the programme and no induction can happen since it is almost impossible to provide proper education considering the way the course is structured.In some IITs, students who have more than three to four backlogs during the first two semesters, find it difficult to pursue the remaining course and this might lead to dropouts, said S Sundar, chairman of IIT-JEE. Assuring that corrective measures have been initiated, Irani said through guidance and counselling, students facing emotional difficulties are identified and guided to professional counsellors for help.Though the number of IIT dropouts is growing every year, the IITs had preferred to opt for an ‘exit policy’ aimed at plugging seat vacancies that occur when students quietly drop out, instead of taking concrete steps to stop the dropouts.The Ananda Krishnan committee report on suicides in IITs also mentioned stress and inability to cope up with the system. 

757 dropouts from IITs, 717 from NITs in 2014-15: Minister

757 dropouts from IITs, 717 from NITs in 2014-15: Minister

Contributed by JAKE CARTER on August 5, 2015 at 11:43 pm

“The reasons for dropouts may be attributed to shifting to other colleges/institutions, personal reasons, medical reasons, getting jobs during PG courses, inability to cope with academic stress etc”, Irani said in a written reply.

In some IITs, students who have more than three to four backlogs during the first two semesters, find it hard to pursue the remaining course and this might lead to dropouts, said S Sundar, chairman of IIT-JEE. IIT Roorkee saw the most dropouts at 228, followed by IIT Kharagpur, 209, and IIT Delhi, 169.

Though the number of IIT dropouts is growing every year, the IITs had preferred to opt for an “exit policy” aimed at plugging seat vacancies that occur when students quietly drop out, instead of taking concrete steps to stop the dropouts.

There are 16 IITs and 30 NITs in the country.

Of the NITs, there were 717 dropouts in 2014-15, lower than 785 found in the year-prior period.

In a major relief to students, IITs and NITs will refund the acceptance fee after deducting minimal processing charges in case a student gives up his allotted seat to take admission in any other institute including private one. The administration is resolved to deliver issues identified with academic stress, she included.

She said that the IITs had initiated continuous corrective actions to minimise dropouts, including counselling to de-stress students, guidance and counselling unit headed by faculty members and appointments of advisors. It lives up to expectations almost alongside various staff advocates and consultants to “recognise students confronting emotional challenges and aide them to expert guides for help”.

Referring to the member, the Minister said his indication that “children in the IIT ecosystem and IIT family are committing suicides because they are unable to keep up with the pressure that the academic environment in the IIT has, is incorrect”.

Irani told the House in response to a question that IITs have extensive support systems to help students overcome barriers such as language and their progress was monitored on a monthly basis.

The issue came to light after the IIT-Roorkee recently expelled 73 students for their under-performance and later took them back to give another chance for improving their performance amid an uproar in the political circles as most of these students belonged to the reserved categories. AIADMK member M Thambidurai, while asking a supplementary question in the Lok Sabha, drew a comparison of figures and sought to know from the HRD minister why the students were moving out from “reputed institutes” like IIT Roorkee, Mumbai and Delhi in high numbers but not from similar institutions like IIT Madras.

Academic Stress, Reason for Students Calling it Quits in IITs, NITs - New Indian Express

Academic Stress, Reason for Students Calling it Quits in IITs, NITs

By Ram Sundaram  and  U Anand Kumar

Published: 06th August 2015 03:05 AM

CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: More than 4,400 students dropped out of IITs and NITs in the last three years due to various reasons including “academic stress”, the government said on Wednesday and assured that corrective actions have been initiated.

Once an IIT student drops out of his/her course at any point, the seat remains vacant till the end of the programme and no induction can happen since it is almost impossible to provide proper education considering the way the course is structured.

In some IITs, students who have more than three to four backlogs during the first two semesters, find it difficult to pursue the remaining course and this might lead to dropouts, said S Sundar, chairman of IIT-JEE.

Assuring that corrective measures have been initiated, Irani said through guidance and counselling, students facing emotional difficulties are identified and guided to professional counsellors for help.

Though the number of IIT dropouts is growing every year, the IITs had preferred to opt for an ‘exit policy’ aimed at plugging seat vacancies that occur when students quietly drop out, instead of taking concrete steps to stop the dropouts.

The Ananda Krishnan committee report on suicides in IITs also mentioned stress and inability to cope up with the system. The findings of the committee ranged from personal problems, mental stress, family problems, factors such as poor results and inability to cope with teaching methods.

“If the recommendations of the Ananda Krishnan Committee report on suicides in IITs had been strictly implemented, there would have been no dropouts in IITs. Unable to cope with the system and stress could be the main reasons for the dropouts,” said an IIT Delhi professor.

“As far as Thambidurai’s question with regard to IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi and IIT Roorkee on why there is a large surge of dropouts from these three institutions is concerned, I would like to assure him that, the Department has communicated with these institutions asking for the reasons as to why they feel there is such a large number of dropouts. I am sure that they will respond to the government  of India soon,” Irani said in the Lok Sabha. She added, “Let me reiterate here the commitment of the government to ensure that within these IITs, we will ensure that the mechanism to deal with academic stress and the mechanism to help weaker students to strengthen themselves.”

Smriti Irani concedes academic stress leading to drop-outs in IITs, NITs; rejects notion it's causing suicides - dna

Smriti Irani concedes academic stress leading to drop-outs in IITs, NITs; rejects notion it's causing suicides

Thursday, 6 August 2015 - 8:34am IST |

 Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI

Interestingly, while responding to a supplementary query on whether academic pressure is causing suicide by IIT students, Irani asserted this was "incorrect"

Over 4,400 students dropped out of IITs and NITs in the last three years due to various reasons including "academic stress", the government said on Wednesday and assured that corrective actions have been initiated.

As many as 2,060 students dropped out from various Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2012-13 to 2014-15, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani informed the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

During this three-year period, 2,352 students dropped out from the National Institutes of Technology (NITs).

"The reasons for dropouts may be attributed to shifting to other colleges/institutions, personal reasons, medical reasons, getting jobs during PG courses, inability to cope with academic stress etc," Irani said in a written reply. In 2014-15, IITs witnessed 757 dropouts which was higher than 697 dropouts (2013-14) and 606 (2012-13). During this period, IIT Roorkee saw the highest number of dropouts at 228, followed by IIT Kharagpur (209) and IIT Delhi (169).

Interestingly, there were no dropouts at IITs in Mandi, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Madras and Ropar during 2014-15 period. There are 16 IITs and 30 NITs in the country. Of the NITs, there were 717 dropouts in 2014-15, lower than 785 seen in the year-ago period. In 2012-13, the dropout numbers stood at 850.

Irani said there is a mechanism for helping students who are under stress. The government is committed to address issues related to academic stress, she added. Listing out various initiatives that are in place to minimise dropouts at IITs, Irani said there is a guidance and counselling unit, headed by a faculty member. It works closely along with a number of faculty counsellors and advisors to "identify students facing emotional difficulties and guide them to professional counsellors for help". 

Interestingly, while responding to a supplementary query on whether academic pressure is causing suicide by IIT students, Irani asserted this was "incorrect". Referring to the member, the Minister said his indication that "children in the IIT ecosystem and IIT family are committing suicides because they are unable to keep up with the pressure that the academic environment in the IIT has, is incorrect". 

Irani also assured that any challenge that IIT students present to the faculty within the IIT ecosystem would be met in a supportive fashion.

To another query, she said, "I had said that I contest the fact that there is no mechanism available within the IITs to address issues with regard to either academic stress" or that more problems are faced by children from weaker segments of society. "I would like to firmly state here with all humility that to say that students do not take stress is not a statement that I made. I said that we have provided a mechanism that a student under stress within this eco system can approach and seek help and guidance from," Irani noted.

She was responding to AIADMK member M Thambidurai, also the Deputy Speaker, who asked the Minister about the anomaly in the written and oral responses. To a query about IIT Roorkee expelling 73 students last month for less academic scores, Irani said the IIT's action was challenged in court. The court had upheld IITs' right to ensure that academic performance, that the students themselves gave an undertaking to uphold, was met.

"IIT, Roorkee undertook an initiative to take these students back only if they yet again fulfill those academic standards that they gave an undertaking when they entered into the system," she noted.

AIADMK member P Sundaram asked her about the issue at IIT, Chennai where students were apparently prevented from enriching their knowledge through forums like Periyar-Ambedkar Study Circle. In response, Irani said in the case of IIT Chennai, it is the institution, the Academic Executive Council and the Students Council which has elected representatives of student bodies within the institution, that set benchmarks for activities undertaken by any individual within that campus.

90 percent of IIT-R dropouts are backward caste: Is this a case against against affirmative action? - First Post

90 percent of IIT-R dropouts are backward caste: Is this a case against against affirmative action?

by G Pramod Kumar  Aug 5, 2015 17:41 IST

The revelation that 90 percent of the students that IIT Roorkee gave a second chance to after expelling them for poor performance last month belong to backwards castes (SCs, STs and OBCs) is hardly surprising because the writing has always been on the wall.

Affirmative action (reservation in Indian terms) does give backward caste students opportunities for engineering education in the country’s premier institutions, but once admitted, many of them struggle to cope with the twin-pressure of academics and neglect by a merit-driven ecosystem. Many of them drop to the bottom and, as the Roorkee experience shows, gets ejected from their dream of a high-paying profession and class transition.

The decision of the Roorkee IIT to expel 73 students with poor performance (measured in terms of CGPA — cumulative grade point average) was an eye-opener to the condition of many kids who make the near impossible entry into the hallowed IIT campuses. On Wednesday, The Indian Express reported that 90 percent of them were from SCs, STs and OBCs. The proponents of meritocracy will like this statistic because they have long been arguing that technical education is not for everyone and merit should be its bedrock.

The alleged suicide of a Dalit student at IIT Mumbai last year provided a glimpse of the suffering of backward caste students in institutions such as IITs: his performance in exams had been poor, he had uncleared papers for three years, and was a victim of taunts by general category students and even a faculty member. Reporting the case, DNA said that about 56 percent of students at the institution under reserved categories felt discrimination. More over, about 60 percent of them also felt more pressured by academics than the general category students. Their difficulty showed up in their CGPA as well — while the average CGPA for the general category students was 8.09, for the OBC-students it was 6.6, and for the SC/ST, 5.9.

This is a serious problem — governments upholding the country’s constitutional guarantee to a level playing field for students from backward castes, but failing to ensure that they benefit from it. About 50 percent of the seats are set aside for them, but if substantial number of them fall through the cracks — as the Roorkee figures show — it serves no purpose. Even if they sail through, what’s the use of an average CGPA of 5? Will any company hire students with such a low CGPA? A wasted guarantee and opportunity indeed.

This social chasm is not without underlying reasons. An earlier study by the prestigious Centre for Development Studies in Thiruvananthapuram that analysed the academic performance of all the engineering colleges in Kerala during 2004-08 showed that only 17.7 percent SC/ST students passed their final exams. The corresponding figure for the OBCs was better at 40 percent. According to CP John, a member of Kerala’s state planning board, this was because of poor fundamentals. Reservation helps the backward caste students to gain admission, but their poor schooling pulls them back. “The SC/ST students who come from these schools (poorly run government schools) and get into engineering colleges cannot comprehend what is being taught there.”

This is exactly what’s happening in the IITs too. The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admission to IITs is the toughest admission test in the world. Although about 9000 students get shortlisted from about 13.5 lakh aspirants, only those within the first 2000-2500 rank can get a good course and a decent location. The rest end up doing undesirable courses in also-ran IITs. This means that only 0.2 percent of the candidates make the final cut. Although this top layer students are extremely competitive, many of them also succumb to pressure and lose out. An anonymous post on Quora categories them as hope, dope and rope. Yes, it’s tragic that a few of them end up in drugs, while some even commit suicide.

In such a competitive environment, reserved category students with limited preparation (mostly because of poor schooling and poor exposure to a fierce exam-based academics) are at a far greater disadvantage, which is not going to disappear until the reservation policy is deepened with a greater sense of purpose. It calls for a system-revamp to ensure that the backward caste students get good school education right from elementary levels (means strengthening government schools and a lot more scholarships) and an additional layer of affirmative action — in the form of extra tuition classes, one-on-one consultations etc — even after they gain admission into places such as the IITs.

What we see now is the problem of an impersonal, quota-based system. Governments and political parties don’t mean any purpose, than wooing their vote-banks, while setting aside quotas and filling them. Every single case needs to be audited and taken to its logical end. And it has to start all the way from the bottom when children are enrolled in schools.

Over 4,400 students dropout of IITs, NITs in three years - Deccan Herald

Over 4,400 students dropout of IITs, NITs in three years

New Delhi, Aug 5, 2015, (PTI)

Over 4,400 students dropped out of IITs and NITs in the last three years due to various reasons including "academic stress", the government said today and assured that corrective actions have been initiated.

As many as 2,060 students dropped out from various Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2012-13 to 2014-15, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani informed the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

During this three-year period, 2,352 students dropped out from the National Institutes of Technology (NITs).

"The reasons for dropouts may be attributed to shifting to other colleges/institutions, personal reasons, medical reasons, getting jobs during PG courses, inability to cope with academic stress etc," Irani said in a written reply.

In 2014-15, IITs witnessed 757 dropouts which was higher than 697 dropouts (2013-14) and 606 (2012-13). During this period, IIT Roorkee saw the highest number of dropouts at 228, followed by IIT Kharagpur (209) and IIT Delhi (169).

Interestingly, there were no dropouts at IITs in Mandi, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Madras and Ropar during 2014-15 period.

There are 16 IITs and 30 NITs in the country.

Of the NITs, there were 717 dropouts in 2014-15, lower than 785 seen in the year-ago period. In 2012-13, the dropout numbers stood at 850.

Irani said there is a mechanism for helping students who are under stress. The government is committed to address issues related to academic stress, she added.

Listing out various initiatives that are in place to minimise dropouts at IITs, Irani said there is a guidance and counselling unit, headed by a faculty member. It works closely along with a number of faculty counsellors and advisors to "identify students facing emotional difficulties and guide them to professional counsellors for help".

Interestingly, while responding to a supplementary query on whether academic pressure is causing suicide by IIT students, Irani asserted this was "incorrect".

Referring to the member, the Minister said his indication that "children in the IIT ecosystem and IIT family are committing suicides because they are unable to keep up with the pressure that the academic environment in the IIT has, is incorrect".

Irani also assured that any challenge that IIT students present to the faculty within the IIT ecosystem would be met in a supportive fashion.

To another query, she said, "I had said that I contest the fact that there is no mechanism available within the IITs to address issues with regard to either academic stress" or that more problems are faced by children from weaker segments of society.

"I would like to firmly state here with all humility that to say that students do not take stress is not a statement that I made. I said that we have provided a mechanism that a student under stress within this eco system can approach and seek help and guidance from," Irani noted.

She was responding to AIADMK member M Thambidurai, also the Deputy Speaker, who asked the Minister about the anomaly in the written and oral responses.

To a query about IIT Roorkee expelling 73 students last month for less academic scores, Irani said the IIT's action was challenged in court. The court had upheld IITs' right to ensure that academic performance, that the students themselves gave an undertaking to uphold, was met.

"IIT, Roorkee undertook an initiative to take these students back only if they yet again fulfill those academic standards that they gave an undertaking when they entered into the system," she noted.

AIADMK member P Sundaram asked her about the issue at IIT, Chennai where students were apparently prevented from enriching their knowledge through forums like Periyar-Ambedkar Study Circle.

In response, Irani said in the case of IIT Chennai, it is the institution, the Academic Executive Council and the Students Council which has elected representatives of student bodies within the institution, that set benchmarks for activities undertaken by any individual within that campus.  

IIT-Bombay to get more proactive on counselling students Indian Express

IIT-Bombay to get more proactive on counselling students

To discuss with experts structure of a counselling centre an institute like IIT-B needs for its 9,000-odd students.

Written by Mihika Basu | Mumbai | Published:July 24, 2015 1:49 am

Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay.

To move from a ‘mostly reactive’ to more proactive counselling services for its students, the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay will soon consult experts to give shape to a counselling centre best suited for an institute like IIT that has students from diverse backgrounds. The institute saw a suicide in May this year when a chemical engineering student ended his life. 

Another student had committed suicide last year.

The institute currently has two counsellors, besides a person who looks at preventive mental health scenarios through lectures, talks and relaxation camps for students.

According to available information, one of the counsellors usually has 130 to 150 students visiting every month. Some are first-time visitors, and several among them do not have to come back for a second visit. There are some repeat visits, and then there are cases where the issue has been resolved and the student makes one last visit. The other counselor is learnt to have handled around 130 cases last year.

Prof Soumyo Mukherji, Dean of Students Affairs, said the institute would soon hire one more counselor.

The aim is to more effectively address problems affecting

students, which could range from depression and performance anxiety to issues faced while settling in a competitive environment.

“While our counselling services are mostly reactive at present, the idea is to extend them to make them more pro-active. For that, we need to hire more people and we will soon hire one more counselor. Further, we are going to have a meeting with renowned psychiatrist and professor Dr Vikram Patel, along with other experts, psychologists and psychiatrists on the structure and specific requirements of a counselling centre for an institute like IIT-Bombay, which has a student strength of 9,000 from across the country,” said Professor Mukherji.

The body of 21-year-old Jitesh Sharma was found on the terrace of IIT-B’s hostel number 15B in May this year. According to the police, the suicide note said Sharma was worried about the results of his exams and that he feared he might not get a good placement.

The family of another IIT-B student, who died last year after a fall from the sixth-floor balcony of another hostel on the campus, had said he was undergoing treatment for depression.

Among other initiatives, the institute also started a Facebook page, “ICare IITB: counselling and mental health”, earlier this year where both students and faculty members can share their views and problems.

According to officials, it is an attempt to reach out to the students and address their stress, anger and related issues in a friendly, unconventional and non-intimidating way.

mihika.basu@expressindia.com

- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/iit-bombay-to-get-more-proactive-on-counselling-students/#sthash.i0yngVLL.dpuf

Another IIT aspirant kills self in coaching hub Kota - Business Standard

Another IIT aspirant kills self in coaching hub Kota

Press Trust of India  |  Kota (Raj)  July 20, 2015 Last Updated at 18:42 IST

An 18-year-old youth, who was taking coaching classes for IIT entrance test, allegedly hanged himself in his hostel room here, days after NCRB released data saying that 45 students committed suicide last year in this coaching hub. 

Avinash Singh, a resident of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, committed suicide at his hostel room in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar colony of Jawaharnagar police station area late last night, Sub Inspector Suraj Singh said.

Avinash's body was found this morning and has been sent to mortuary of Maharao Bhim Singh (MBS) hospital for post mortem examination.

His parents have been informed, the officer said, adding that the boy apparently took the step under stress of studies.

According to data released by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on Saturday, Kota has registered 100 suicide cases in 2014 and 45 of them were coaching students.

The report mentions the stress of studies and failure in examination among the key causes of suicide among coaching students in Kota.

Over 1.50 lakhs students are taking coaching in various coaching institutes in Kota the city that has made name as coaching hub of the country.

Letters: Don't pick on the IITs - Business Standard

Letters: Don't pick on the IITs

Business Standard  |  New Delhi  July 19, 2015 Last Updated at 22:03 IST

This refers to Anjuli Bhargava's column, "Indian Institutes of Trouble" (July 16). Let us start with the facts: About 50 per cent of the B Tech curriculum at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) consists of engineering courses. The rest comprises maths, science (that is not engineering, please), humanities and the liberal arts, management and diverse electives that you need to take to complete your degree. Next, how many of those who study BA in history, B Com or BSc in zoology actually pursue them later? So let us stop picking on B Tech graduates - and that too from the IITs - as easy targets.

On the issue of suicides, in the absence of nation-wide figures (college-wise, year-wise), let us not jump to conclusions based on statistics put out by TV channels. It is unfortunate that we have not developed community awareness on dealing with psychological lows, which are common at that age. Asking students to leave the IIT is a good step, rather than letting them succumb to the pressure. Go to Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Stanford University - the situation is the same. As for putting pressure on 14-15-year-olds to prepare for the IIT joint entrance examination, the entire society is to blame.

All the IIT directors have categorically stated that the IIT system is not designed or aligned to the methodology of QS World University Rankings. As long as the IITs are free of interference from the Executive, and only have pacts on performance with the Ministry of Human Resource Development, they will do all it takes to stand alongside the best in the world.

'Collapse' is a big word. As long as we stem the mushrooming of IITs, the current ones would not implode in quality. Let us focus on elementary and higher education, which are actually on the verge of a collapse.

Srikant Mallela Hyderabad

Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:

The Editor, Business Standard

Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg

New Delhi 110 002

Fax: (011) 23720201

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All letters must have a postal address and telephone number

IIT Roorkee: Expelled Student Attempts Suicide, Admitted To Hospital - Focus News

IIT Roorkee: Expelled Student Attempts Suicide, Admitted To Hospital

By Focus News Bureau - Jul 19, 2015 431 

An expelled student from IIT-Rookee who attempted suicide has been admitted to hospital.

According to doctors, Abhisek Mandal, who is a West Bengal resident attempted suicide by starving, however, his condition is stable now.

The incident happened took place after three days of  IIT-Roorkee’s decision to allow expelled students for re-examination following Uttarakhand High Court’s order.

Earlier on July 8, the senate took its decision and expelled students who scored lower than five cumulative grade point average (CGPA).

ALSO READ:IIT Roorkee: 73 Expelled Students May Get Another Chance

“Seventy three students who scored lower than five cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in the second semester were expelled from the institute as per a decision of the senate consisting of over 100 professors,” IIT Roorkee director Pradipta Bannerjee said.

A rule mandating expulsion of students who scored less than five CGPA for two consecutive semesters was framed last year by the institute to ensure quality education on the campus.

When 73 students were found scoring less than five CGPA in their second semester exam, they were issued expulsion notices by the institute.

ALSO READ: IIT-Roorkee Allows Expelled Students For Re-Examination

In response to the notices, the students and their parents approached the IIT authorities seeking reconsideration of the decision. However, the senate, after a marathon discussion on the issue which went late into the night on Wednesday, decided to expel them, Bannerjee said.

IIT Roorkee sticks to expulsion call - TNN

IIT Roorkee sticks to expulsion call

Shivani Saxena, TNN | Jul 10, 2015, 10.07PM IST

DEHRADUN: A day after IIT Roorkee expelled 73 students for under-performing, the institute called a meeting of senior officials including the director and heads of departments, to review the expulsion of the students. 

The meeting, which went on till 8 in the evening, eventually decided that there would be no change in the decision taken by the academic senate which had met on Wednesday and had decided to expel all the 73 students. 

"After a lot of deliberations and analysis, we decided to go ahead with the senate's decision on the expulsion. There would be no change in it," said Prashant Garg, registrar, IIT Roorkee.

Meanwhile, some of the affected students said that they were considering approaching the high court against the institute's decision. "None of us knew that if we scored less than 5 CGPA, we would be expelled. It was a big shock when we read the notice issued in this regard. We contacted many professors, but none of them were also aware about this rule, "claimed one of the students who scored a CGPA of 4.75 in the first two semesters, and who was considering a legal option. 

However, a senior professor at the institute said that the rules are clearly mentioned in the rule book. "It is not like the rules of the match have been changed after the match started. That would have been an unfair thing. The expulsion might be reconsidered and the decision might be revised for some on humanitarian grounds, but at the end of the day, a rule is a rule." 

Parents when contacted did not speak much the issue and said they were only worried about their children who they hoped would not take any drastic step like suicide if the decision is not revised.

"A student who got through IIT from the general category quota, after a year-long rigorous preparation can't be academically that bad. It is already too late for enrolments in other colleges. These students should be given a second opportunity" said a worried parent, who had come from Jaipur to be with his son.

Anjuli Bhargava: Indian Institutes of Technology or Trouble? - Business Standard

Anjuli Bhargava: Indian Institutes of Technology or Trouble?

Are teachers, parents, govts, academicians and society trying to break down a 65-year old institution?

Anjuli Bhargava

July 15, 2015 Last Updated at 21:48 IST

As one reads about the plight of students who make it to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), those who fail to do so and those who make it through the system once in, one can't help but wonder whether this was what was intended.

Let me start with one big question: are the IITs actually for training and producing engineers? Most IIT-ians I know - and this is a fair number - are not pursuing engineering. They are bankers, consultants, angel investors, senior level executives or even heads of non-governmental organisations. I don't know a single civil, mechanical or electrical engineer for that matter. The engineers India produces are primarily from the regional engineering colleges. So if the idea is to churn out good, capable managers, do they really need an IIT-education?

A few weeks ago, I was following the story on an IIT Mumbai student who took his own life, unable to cope with the stress of the system. Television channels put out statistics that revealed that suicide rates among IIT students are quite high - again something unheard of in the 1980s and 1990s.

Then last week, IIT Roorkee identified and asked 73 students who could not cope with the curriculum or were evidently disinterested in it (one student quit to join acting classes) to leave. Without going into the rights and wrongs of the issue, I presume if the institute took such a drastic decision it must have had valid reasons.

I know a few students who failed the dreaded Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and some who made it. And they have an important point to make. The moment a child shows some interest or aptitude in the sciences, parents start talking of the JEE examination at home. Teachers add to the decibel level. Before the student fully realises what he is signing on for - or whether he actually wants a career in engineering at all - he is brain-washed into enrolling for the classes. Others around you seem to be in the same boat, so peer pressure builds up. It's a fait accompli for those demonstrating aptitude in math and science. Career choices are made ridiculously early.

Students at ages 14-15 start attending these classes. They are in a sort of pressure cooker situation for at least four years before they actually take the test. Thankfully, several - probably not cut out for it anyway - fall by the wayside.

But some who finally do make it find it a bit of an anti climax. Exhausted or burnt out, many begin to question whether this is what they wanted in the first place. Older and wiser, some begin to question why engineering. Yet the pressure of performance - and the IIT curriculum - continues to build. Semesters seem to merge into one another and one examination follows the next.

Far too many crack under the pressure. As one student I know put it "you are on a treadmill that refuses to stop" but there's no time to do anything about it.

Then there are those who are disappointed with what they find once in. A post by a former student who passed out in 2014 talks of the "academic void" his IIT education left in him. He found himself surrounded by people who were more interested in the "job" and the "package" post an IIT stint rather than evolving into a better professional. He says that he enjoyed everything about being at an IIT except the academics.

Academic standards at almost all the IITs have dropped steadily through the years (IITs have been slipping in QS World University Rankings every year). So if Pradipta Banerji, director of IIT Roorkee, managed to cull out the students who failed to cope or were not interested in learning, we need someone across the IIT system to cull out those who failed to teach or were not interested in teaching.

Instead of quibbling with student bodies, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani should look at some of these real problems plaguing the IITs and save this 65-year old institution from virtual collapse.

5 deaths in one month, Kota's IIT coaching institutes hit by suicide scandal - The Telegraph

5 deaths in one month, Kota's IIT coaching institutes hit by suicide scandalhttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1150701/jsp/nation/story_28907.jsp#.VZS6Dkuopg0

Rakhee Roy Talukdar

Wednesday, 01 July 2015 11:08 AM

Jaipur: Rohit Singh hanged himself in his bedroom. That was on Saturday. The young man was only 18.

On June 8, Sarthak Yadav killed himself too.

Barely four days earlier, Nibha Tiwari had decided she couldn't stand it any more.

A coaching institute in Kota.

All three - Rohit, Sarthak and Nibha - had something in common. They were young, looked forward to a bright career, either as an IIT graduate or a doctor, and came to what is described as the country's coaching capital, Kota.

The Rajasthan city, some 255km from Jaipur, boasts the highest number of IIT selections every year and takes pride in its "Kota module" of updated study material and rigorous coaching.

Some 10,000 aspirants have been called for counselling this year. But five suicides this month have turned the lens on something most coaching centres, and some parents too, seem to have forgotten in the rush for success: trained counsellors to hear out the students when the going gets tough.

Tough is an understatement: the chances of success work out to something like one in 140.

According to police records, at least 11 students have committed suicide in Kota since January this year. In 2014, the number was 14, while 26 suicides were reported the year before.

Parents blame it on stress, the punishing schedule of long hours of study and preparatory exams. They also complain of lack of regular monitoring of how the students were, physically and mentally, when their tuition grades start falling.

The coaching institutes say stress is inevitable when 14 lakh students, for instance, decide to vie for 10,000 IIT seats. "Earlier, we used to hear one or two cases. Now the number of suicide cases are rising, but with so many students competing for one of the toughest tests, these numbers are minuscule," Pramod Bansal, director of Bansal Classes, told The Telegraph.

Stress, say counsellors, is indeed understandable, especially when these coaching institutes charge anything between Rs 70,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh every year from students.

What was not understandable is they don't have a system of counselling, especially before enrolling students.

True, conceded Bansal. "We don't counsel students before we take them in," he admitted. "But our doctors monitor a student who is not eating, or sleeping well or is in a kind of depression."

According to figures available, around 1.5 lakh aspiring engineers and doctors come to Kota every year, putting up in hostels, renting houses or staying as paying guests. Their day starts early: by 6am, they head to coaching centres. After tuitions, it's time for regular school or college. They don't get free before 8 in the evening. After dinner, it's study time again till they finally hit the bed.

They are also told not to sleep for over six hours. "The routine is tough, but then IIT seats are limited and time is at a premium," said Amit Yadav, a student from Jaipur.

Time was of premium too for Nibha, a girl from Jharkhand, who killed herself on June 4. A day later, the police found the bodies of Kuldeep Rastogi, of Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, and his daughter Dipanshi, 18.

Kuldeep, 48, committed suicide after killing his daughter in a hotel room. In a purported suicide note, he said he was taking the extreme step because of his poor financial condition. Counsellors say the tuition fee of the coaching institute where his daughter wanted to get enrolled was probably too high for them.

Next it was Sarthak from Saharanpur, also from Uttar Pradesh, and Ashwini Kumar from Bihar. Rohit's suicide, on June 27, was the latest.

M.L. Agarwal, a psychiatrist, said a helpline he started four years ago gets at least a 1,000 calls a year from students suffering from extreme stress.

Counsellors say the first "setback" the students in Kota suffer is when they compete with toppers from across the country and see their coaching class grades fall in comparison. "It is then that frustration anxiety sets in," Agarwal said.

SOURCE: www.telegraphindia.com

Rajasthan: IIT-JEE aspirant hangs self in Kota - dna

Rajasthan: IIT-JEE aspirant hangs self in Kota

Sunday, 28 June 2015 - 12:01pm IST | Place: Kota | Agency: 

A suicide note, in which the boy held himself responsible for the extreme step, was also recovered during the search of his room.

An 18-year-old IIT-JEE aspirant allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling fan in his room here, police said on Sunday. Body of Rohit Singh was recovered from his apartment on Baran road last evening, SHO Boorkheda police station, Ranvijay Singh said.

The police is investigating if the student had taken the extreme step due to stress of studies or some other reason, he said. The student, who hails from Gopalganj district of Bihar, was staying in Kota with his parents and two siblings, and preparing for IIT entrance test, the SHO said.

A suicide note, in which the boy held himself responsible for the extreme step, was also recovered during the search of his room, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) at Boorkheda police station Ghanshyam Lal said. The student had shut himself in his room for studying on Saturday morning but did not come out till 7.00 pm.

His mother and the neighbours informed the police following which the body was found hanging from the ceiling fan, the ASI said, adding, the boy's father is not in the city. The body has been placed in the mortuary of Maharao Bhim Singh hospital and post-mortem would be conducted today after his father arrives.

A case under section 174 of CrPC would be lodged in this connection however, the investigation is still going on, he added. 

18 years old IIT-JEE student committed suicide in Kota

18 years old IIT-JEE student committed suicide in Kota

News

Jun 28, 2015

18-years-old student committed suicide in Kota

As per fresh reports, Rohit Singh, an IIT-JEE candidate, has committed suicide.

The report said that the 18-years-old strung himself up from the ceiling fan in his bedroom.

SHO Boorkheda police station, Mr. Ranvijay Singh stated that the dead body of the pupil got recovered from his residence on Baran road on June 27 evening.

The police officials are probing if the pupil had taken the severe step because of pressure of studies or any other cause, Mr. Ranvijay Singh said. The pupil, who belongs to Gopalganj region of Bihar, was residing in the city of Kota with his mother-father and two sibs, and making preparations for IIT entrance examination, the SHO added.

A suicide letter, in which Rohit held himself accountable for the severe step, was also found during the investigation of his room, ASI at Boorkheda police headquarters Ghanshyam Lal stated.

The pupil had shut himself in his bedroom on June 27 morning, but did not open the door till 7.00 pm.

Rohit’s mom and the fellow citizens notified the police accompanying which Rohit’s body was discovered hanging from the ceiling fan, Ghanshyam Lal said, adding, the boy’s father is not in the city.

The dead body has been placed in the morgue of Maharao Bhim Singh hospital and postmortem examination would be carried out today after his father comes back.

IIT-Kanpur student slits wrist in suicide bid - TNN

IIT-Kanpur student slits wrist in suicide bid

TNN | Jun 24, 2015, 11.23AM IST

KANPUR: A post graduate student of Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) slit his wrist in a suicide bid late on Monday evening. Panicky authorities immediately rushed him to health centre on the campus from where he was later referred to Regency Hospital in Sarvodaya Nagar. 

On Tuesday, his condition was stated to be stable. The reason behind the drastic step was yet to be ascertained. 

The authorities are waiting for the student's recovery to initiate a probe. However, his colleagues said that he took the step in depression. 

Acting director Prof Ajit Chaturvedi confirmed the incident but said that the reason behind the drastic step was yet to be ascertained. 

"We all are shocked and are unaware as to what went wrong," he said. The acting director further said that no fact finding committee had been constituted so far. 

A fellow colleague found PG student Arun Kumar Sharma lying in a pool of blood. 

Realising that Sharma had slit his wrists, the colleague immediately alerted institute authorities. After admitting him to Regency Hospital, institute authorities informed his parents in Kota. 

Meanwhile, Sharma's colleagues kept a night-long vigil in the hospital praying for his well-being. 

On Tuesday, his father Arun Sharma reached the hospital and broke down after seeing his condition. 

Attending medical staff said that the boy's condition had improved and he had been shifted to a room.

IIT-Kanpur student attempts suicide - dna

IIT-Kanpur student attempts suicide

Tuesday, 23 June 2015 - 4:41pm IST 

Place: Kanpur | Agency: PTI

No complaint was lodged with the police.

A student of IIT-Kanpur allegedly tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrist here, official said today. Arun Kumar Sharma (25), a student of Ph.D mechanical engineering who hails from Kota, attempted suicide yesterday evening in room number eight of the hostel over family problems, Administration Incharge, NN Kishore told PTI.

He was taken to the dispensary in the campus by his friends but later shifted to a private hospital after his condition deteriorated, Kishore said, adding that, the student is now out of danger. However, no complaint was lodged with the police.

No complaint has been lodged yet and Kalyanpur police was not informed about the incident, Circle Officer DSP P Mohan Tripathi said.

When contacted, Director of IIT-Kanpur Indranil Manna and Registrar RK Sachan were not available for comments. 

A Canard about Dalit Suicides in IITs - "Q & A"

Q - I read with interest your blog on the suicides at IITs.  A canard is being spread that Dalit students form a huge portion of such suicides because of caste discrimination. I went through your list and the names suggest that only 6 could be Dalits. Do you have any additional information in this regard? Shall be grateful for a response. 

A -  "Canard" is the most appropriate word for this and it is just that.

Having said that the true situation IMHO is that a considerable percentage of merit students struggle with the high pressure system and tough curriculum, especially merit students from JEE Coaching schools, who learn get trained to excel in an JEE based on Multiple choice questions, without having strong fundamentals in maths, physics and chemistry.

If this is the case for even some merit students, imagine how difficult it would be for Dalit Students who get admission through Reservation even though they do not score adequate marks in JEE. These students lack strong fundas and are no match for merit students oozing with brains.

IITs are like boot camps and there is no let up and every one has to keep up or drop out and no one is in a position to assist the weak.

As one would expect the Dalit students fall into a rut and find it difficult to extricate themselves. To blame the failures of Dalit students on Caste discrimination, is false accusations.

Imagine throwing a bunch of kids who do not know how to swim into the deep ocean. They will all struggle and majority will some how survive however there will be a few that drown in the process. Is the Ocean to be blamed for these drownings ?

The mistake here is introducing Reservation into IITs for SC/ST students who don't have to score the marks scored by general category students.

Reservation in IITs is hurting the very students it is supposed to assist. Blame Govt Policies. 

Reservation has done more damage to SC/ST population since independence and we are led to believe it is helping them.

The Government has to look for better options to assist SC / ST Students like giving them scholarships to attend JEE Coaching Schools so these students enter IITs on Merit feeling confident and not through reservations.

Ram Krishnaswamy