Jaipur: The cases of student suicide that happen every year have damaged the image of the country’s coaching hub Kota to such an extent that for the last two years, the number of students coming to Kota has reduced by more than 40 percent. Consequently, the coaching industry, which runs the economy of Kota is facing a crisis.
However, now the entire Kota as a team is trying to improve this image. From coaching centers to hostel operators and Collector-SP to Kota MP and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, all are appealing to parents to send their children to Kota.
Students from all over the country come to Kota for the preparation for IIT entrance and NEET. Kota has an image of delivering good results, but some students find it difficult to bear the pressure of studying for eight to ten hours every day and hence, cases of student suicide also come to light here. In the year 2023, 28 students committed suicide here, while in 2024 the number of suicides was 17.
These cases caused dent the image of Kota and the coaching hub turned into a city of student suicides. This resulted in a sharp decline in student football in the city.
As per reports there were more than 2,20,000 children in Kota in the year 2022, this number had fallen to 170,000 in 2023 and to 120,000 in 2024.
The Kota Hostel Association President Naveen Mittal said, “around 1.70 -1.80 lakh students comes to Kota every year, but the number declined to 1.20 lakh in 2024 which has affected the economy of the city.”
Kota depends upon the coaching industry
The entire economy of Kota is dependent on coaching and this decline in the number of students has caused great harm to the economy here.
There are 10 big coaching institutes in Kota. More than 50 small and individual coaching classes are running as well. Besides this, there are 4200 registered hostels and more than 30,000 PG rooms and flats in more than 15 areas along with hundreds of tiffin centers, restaurants and shops.
“Every student who arrives in Kota, spends around Rs two lakh per year, so one can understand the size of economy that runs because of these students,” said Mittal.
Kota working as a team
Naveen Mittal said that Kota has been maligned in the entire country due to the suicide of students. Whereas such cases happen everywhere, but Kota is safe and all are working hard to change the negative image of Kota and the results are encouraging. “ The quarries have started coming in for the coming season, and we are confident that this year, Kota will find its lost glory,” said Mittal.
The Superintendent of Police of Kota Dr. Amrita in her video message to parents said that parents can send their children here without any worries. Efforts have been made by the administration and police to guide the students.
Even Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota-Bundi MP Om Birla has appealed to students and their parents across the country to come to Kota for coaching. “Kota had a good environment for students as many of them achieved their dreams from Kota. Due to some misunderstanding the environment of Kota was spoiled, but I believe that every student who comes to Kota for coaching is raised by the families here like their children,” said Birla recently to the media.
Other efforts
District Collector Dr. Ravindra Goswami who prepared for medical entrance from Kota itself, has written an open letter to the student-parents to appraise them about the efforts of administration.
A Student Dedicated Emotional Wellbeing Center has been started by a reputed coaching center in Kota to understand, resolve and counsel the students. Kota Hostel Association is providing a free one-day stay and food to the parents coming to Kota with their children.
Room rents in hostels have also been reduced for students. The Hostel Association is also working on a musical club. Kota Care Campaign is being started by the administration in Kota to provide behavioral training to vegetable vendors and auto drivers.
