Kota: Stricter rules for India student hub after suicides

Classroom in a coaching hub, Kota, Indiashabby graphics

After an increase in student suicides, training centers in Kota, a city in northern India, are dealing with stricter regulations. Vineet Khare of BBC Hindi has been speaking with students who have traveled to Kota to receive education in order to help them move access exams for prestigious colleges, and he has discovered that many of them are under a great deal of pressure to succeed.

Twenty-one-year-old Vijay( never his true name ) has failed the medical college entrance exam three days. He had hoped that by attending a pricy coaching facility in Kota, in the state of Rajasthan in northern India, he may pass the test.

Vijay, like many other pupils, had imagined Kota to be a dreamland.

Huge billboards with the names, images, and ratings of successful students are all over the city. More than 200,000 students — some as young as 13 — come here to study and are housed in dorms or privately rented spaces.

It is well known for its educational facilities, which were created to help young people prepare for India’s fiercely competitive entrance examination for the top engineering and medical schools. With least 50 smaller tutoring centers are present, along with 12 larger ones.

tension, stress, and satisfaction

For American parents, getting into one of these prestigious institutions is a source of pride, and failing is despised. For many people, the annual cost of institutions is over 100,000 American inr($ 1, 200,£ 1, 000 ). However, admission to a prestigious executive or medical school is an entry-level job with higher pay.

Vijay’s community is not wealthy and resides in the land. His dad is a producer, so he was constantly worried about disappointing his kids.

He acknowledges,” I used to lay to my kids about my poor check effects.”

Billboard in Kota shows results of students

shabby graphics

He claims that at one place, his increasing worry was causing him headaches and stomach pain, and that it was only after failing his subsequent exam that he nearly committed suicide.

He claims,” I felt I had no choice left.”

” I had ruined my parents’ standing and wasted their money.”

He says,” I just kept my depressive thoughts to myself despite the pressure of the situation.”

Vijay claims that after seeing Bollywood sun Deepika Padukone discuss her despair, he had a change of heart. The artist made a public speech about how overworking is frequently exaggerated and the detrimental effects it can have on mental wellbeing. Her candor motivated him to ask for assistance. Vijay claims he is trying to take each day as it comes and is currently receiving medical care.

Other students also share their stories with me regarding the challenges of living alone, great familial expectations, match stress, intense competition, and 14-hour workweeks. According to police data, more than 100 individuals in Kota have committed suicide over the past ten years, including at least 25 this year, the highest number ever in a single season.

One of those suicides, involving a 15-year-old woman, occurred while I was in the area.

It’s unclear why she committed suicide in the first place. Her dad told me over the phone while traveling to Kota after learning of her passing that she never expressed any study-related grief to us. She did, however, mention scholar deaths in Kota. He continued,” I told her to concentrate on her studies instead.

Harishankar

The Hindustan Times, a local paper, examined government data and came to the conclusion that the majority of student deaths in Kota in 2023 involved males under the age of 18 who were getting ready for clinical exams. These boys primarily came from low-income families in remote parts of northern India.

Adarsh Raj, who was also from a farming home and was enrolled in Kota, wanted to be an ophthalmologist but committed suicide in August at the age of 18. His home has been devastated. We didn’t exert any strain on him. According to his brother Harishankar, we believe that his despair was caused by low test scores, which is why he took this drastic action. Death, however, is not the answer.

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You can find help lines in India via the AASRA site or regionally via Befrienders Worldwide if you’re thinking about suicide or know someone who might be. BBC Action Line has connections to numerous organizations in the UK that provide support and advice.

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workshops on legislation, assistance, and mental health

The Rajasthan state government has imposed stricter regulations on these training centers as a result of the current increase in student suicides in Kota.

It published guidelines on September 29 that forbade test results from being made people and discouraged student enrollment below class nine( children under the age of 14 ).

Additionally, student-focused mental health seminars and programs may receive more attention. Additionally, an effort is being made to ensure that more posters are posted to promote a student support helpline.

Arnav Anurag

In June, a group of 11 individuals led by senior police officer Chandrasheel was established with the goal of identifying individuals who were exhibiting signs of depression.

He explains,” We go to dormitories and talk to people to find out which individuals are exhibiting behavioral adjustments.” If there are any warning signs, we keep an eye on the student, engage in conversation, speak with the lodge governor, and contact the parents.

Covid confinement and epidemic

According to the World Health Organization, suicide is the third leading cause of death among children between the ages of 15 and 29 worldwide.

According to federal statistics, more than 13, 000 students in India committed suicide in 2021, an increase of 4.5 % from 2020.

According to one professor, a tutoring center can have up to 300 students enrolled in each class, and occasionally teachers are unaware of the students’ individual names, which can make students feel isolated.

Many lockdowns and the Covid crisis have also had a significant effect.

According to Nitin Vijay, managing director of one of India’s top instruction facilities, Motion Education, post-Covid students’ ability to handle stress is less than it once was. But with period, this will get better, he insists.

Dirty room with bed and books everywhere

The pandemic has had an effect on students’ ability to interact with their peers and teachers, according to Urmil Bakshi, who has worked in the field of knowledge for centuries. However, she also attributes the current state of affairs to the commercialization of instruction in Kota.

” Groups are made up of hundreds of students.” Instructors are unaware of their titles. A baby is unable to create friends out of concern that another pupil might advance by learning more about their academic methods. She claims that the kid is left together.

In Kota, students can live in more than 3,500 hostels and thousands of privately rented spaces, which significantly boost the state’s economy.

I make the decision to investigate the kind of lodging available in Kota’s Vigyan Nagar neighborhood. Empty hallways lead to stairs that take me to a person’s apartment on the second ground. I enter the run-down, claustrophobic space that has a potty next door. Arnav Anurag, 18, who moved to Kota to pursue his career as a doctor— his passion since childhood — lives here.

On a table, some publications are stacked, and more are dispersed across the bed. On one side, there is a computer, and on the other, an atmosphere cooler. A poster of the regular board has been hung on the wall, and clothing hang from the door’s up.

It’s oppressive below, admits Arnav. However, I may leave and say that this is where I again studied once I pass the exam, he says with assurance.

The new regulations mandate coaching for teachers and university managers, as well as wardens of hostels and other personnel at student housing.

For students who are struggling, they even include a provision for an” quick return and refund plan.”

However, Vijay believes that a perfect cultural transformation is required. Allow kids pursue their interests, he advises.

” Kids really let their kids know that there is a universe out there besides engineering and medicine.” The existence of a child is more significant than anything else.

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Heart of the Matter podcast: Why people struggle with mental health issues in Singapore

The two organizations that are exhibiting the greatest signs of mental health problems in Singapore are younger individuals aged 18 to 29 and the old over 70. What sets off the process of seeking assistance, and what are the causes? Rae, a 23-year-old college student, is the father of the youngsters Mak Kean Loong and older clinical psychologist Chris Wong, who is 44 years old.

Death brainstorming is covered in this Heart of the Matter episode. Viewer discretion is suggested.

Where can I find assistance?

Line for Samaritans of Singapore: 1767

Service for the Institute of Mental Health: 6389-2222

Service for the Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800 283 7019

A list of global helplines is also available here. Visit 24 hour emergency medical service if you know someone who is in immediate danger.
 

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Singapore to contribute S$300,000 towards humanitarian aid for Israel-Hamas conflict

SINGAPORE: As it expressed” deep distress” over the situation in the Gaza Strip, the Singapore government announced on Monday( Oct 16) that it will donate S$ 300,000( US$ 219, 073 ) to humanitarian aid for the Israel-Has conflict.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( MFA ) of Singapore noted in a statement the rising number of civilian casualties and worsening humanitarian crisis brought on by Israeli military operations in response to Hamas attacks on October 7. & nbsp,

The Singapore government did contribute$ 300,000 to humanitarian relief efforts through the Singapore Red Cross in response to the immediate humanitarian situation.

Singapore urged all factions to abide by international humanitarian law and permit the Gaza Strip’s civil population to receive humanitarian assistance right away.

The Singapore Red Cross also announced on Monday that it will contribute$ 150, 000 ( S$ 255, 412 ) to support ongoing relief efforts. & nbsp,

According to the organization, the money will benefit both sides’ support efforts, including those of the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Israel’s Magen David Adom. & nbsp,

The public fundraising campaign A & nbsp was introduced on Monday and will run through the end of January of the following year.

Israeli attacks on Gaza had already claimed the lives of at least 2,750 people, including roughly 10,000 wounded and a third of children. Another 1,000 people are missing and thought to be in ruins.

Crimes CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED, they say.

According to the MFA, the Palestinian militant organization Hamas intentionally targeted civilians in its wonder strike, killing and abducting them, and committing heinous acts of terrorism.

” There is no justification for these crimes by any logic.” All civilians taken prisoner by Hamas must be released immediately and safely, according to a director.

Israel has a right to defend its people and its country, according to the law. Israel had, nevertheless, abide by all applicable international law, including the laws of war, in order to exercise this right. It may exert every effort to safeguard civilians’ safety and security.

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Whistleblowers make the world safer. How can Singapore be safer for them?

A LEGISLATIONARY Hodgepodge

Whistling has a history of defending businesses from accidental people all over the world.

More than 2, 000 instances of fraud committed by people against the organizations that employ them were examined in a 2022 international study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, totaling loss of more than US$ 3.6 billion.

It discovered that 42 % of this fraud was first discovered through tip-offs, compared to 16 % through inner audit. Workers themselves provided more than half of those tip-offs.

According to Mr. Abdul Jabbar, head of the corporate and transactional group at Rajah & amp, Tann Singapore, whistleblowers in Singapore are protected by pieces of legislation aimed at particular groups of informants or types of information.

For instance, those who report problem are protected by the Prevention of Corruption Act. Those who report safety violations and accidents in a work environment are protected by the Workplace Safety and Health Act.

The Companies Act shields auditors from responsibility for reporting scams in good faith and from libel lawsuits. According to Mr. Jabbar, independent legislation specifically addresses reporting regarding income tax, extremism financing, competition issues, and drug trafficking.

There are laws for some officials as well. According to the Singapore Exchange Regulation ( SGX RegCo ), listed companies are required to uphold a whistleblowing policy and to describe how they do so while maintaining independent oversight of it.

Financial institutions are required by MAS to create official reporting programs that include safeguards against employees who voice concerns and ensure anonymity.

However, this also leaves a gap.

Mr. Jabbar continued by pointing out that the present mishmash of policy in Singapore is insufficient to address various segments of whistleblowers.

Simply listed businesses and financial institutions are covered by the SGX RegCo and MAS suggestions, which lack legal authority. This excludes a sizable group of companies, including private businesses and governmental organizations.

Reporting on bribery or work protection does not provide protection for those who report common error in the workplace, which may include fraud, fraud, misappropriation of company funds, collusion, and theft.

Additionally, there is no specific regulations that safeguards those who report economic crimes.

According to Mr. Jabbar, where there is security, it is uneven and varies depending on the situation. For instance, while some laws allow privacy, others shield people from revenge.

Additionally, there are no communicate clauses that lessen whistleblowers’ criminal sentences for taking part in the illegal action they reported. Sentences are generally up to the courts’ discretion.

According to the attorney,” one clear law that provides comprehensive protection on all sides, including against torment, trial( and) civil actions like slander will be good.”

Another feature of the law that affects whistleblowers is mandatory reporting requirements. In some circumstances, people and businesses must disclose data they have or risk being held accountable for an offense.

According to Ms. Celeste Ang, main at Baker McKenzie Wong & amp, Leow, such responsibilities can be found in Singapore’s Criminal Procedure Code, legislating to curb violence financing, and anti-money laundering legislation.

A person who has cause to believe that a property is involved in an offense under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking, and Other Serious Crimes( Confiscation of Benefits ) Act is required to disclose the information in accordance with anti-money laundering legislation.

The responsibility is relevant to businesses as well if the individual came across the information during the course of their employment. For breaking the law, there are consequences, such as a good and incarceration for up to three years.

The exact Act stipulates that the informant’s identity and information are not to be made public.

Information about the commission of or intention to commit an” arrestable offense” must be reported in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code. This includes a wide variety of crimes, including murder, rape, extortion, and assault.

According to Ms. Ang, acts of intimidation, harassment, and bias do not fall under the reporting requirement.

However, in Asia-Pacific, such deeds predominate journalist problems, accounting for 72 % of them in a study of Japan, island China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia that Baker McKenzie published last year.

Given the potential for revenge, Ms. Ang said it is crucial to have regulations that safeguards sources at work.

If they are perceived as a” known informer ,” they may be fired from their jobs, have their positions or responsibilities negatively altered, experience emotional distress, and have difficulty finding employment elsewhere.

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Commentary: Do you really have a mental disorder? Or are you just going through a tough time?

A Harmony STRIKING

It is crucial to emphasize that the difficulty in striking a delicate harmony lies in the complicated discourse on the over-medicalization of mental health issues.

On the one hand, we must exercise caution when over-pathologizing typical personal experiences because doing so could result in stigmas and needless medical interventions. However, it’s important to recognize and no downplay mental health issues that call for medical attention.

Anyone can contribute to promoting a fair, compassionate approach to emotional health. People, family members, friends, and community as a whole contribute to the mental health landscape by recognizing signs of distress, providing emotional support when necessary, as well as encouraging expert consultation. Together, these work is drastically raise the standard of living for people dealing with mental health issues by directing them in the right directions for diagnosis and treatment.

Interestingly, expert assistance does not always entail physiological treatment. The bio-psycho-social-spirit model promotes a more comprehensive approach to mental health care that takes into account not only the natural but also the mental, social, and spiritual aspects of well-being.

From counselling and life changes to interpersonal support and spiritual guidance, this rounded unit provides a variety of treatments that can be customized to the individual’s needs. When necessary and in conjunction with other types of action, medicine becomes just one of the choices.

The recently introduced National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy in Singapore appears to take a balanced stance, offering the four-tiered concept that tailors mental health services to the individual’s intensity of requirements. The model provides a wide range of treatment options, from community-led mental wellbeing promotion and peer support at the lowest level to specialized medical interventions. By offering other pathways for treatment and support, this style may reduce the risk of over-medicalization, which is consistent with the multi-dimensional approach of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model.

In terms of mental health care, striking the right balance is a delicate work that is full of potential hazards at either extreme. However, it’s an important effort to build a medical system and society that acknowledges, supports, and nurtures the emotional health of all of its members, regardless of what their needs may be.

Given the complex nature of mental wellbeing, it’s crucial that we keep improving and adapting our strategies, guided by ongoing research, social changes, and the real-world activities of those we want to assist.

Connections MindHealth’s top analyst and medical director is Dr. Jared Ng. He recently oversaw the Institute of Mental Health’s emergency and crisis maintenance division.Continue Reading

'Emergency situation': Indonesian government to tap police in tackling school bullying, support group says barriers persist

According to Dr. Topo Santoso, a teacher of criminal law at the University of Indonesia, the government’s decision to involve the police may allow them to collaborate on the implementation of comprehensive anti-bullying plans that” emphasise prevention, early detection, and appropriate consequences for the culprits.” For kids, parents, and schoolContinue Reading

Australian man rowing across Pacific Ocean rescued after capsizing

Tom Robinson smiling standing by the seaTwitter @ tom_. Robertson

A cruise ship saved a man who was trying to string across the Ocean of the Pacific in his bread boat after it capsized.

Tom Robinson, 24, aspired to finish the effort as the youngest guy ever.

100 coastal miles south-west of the coastline of Vanuatu, he was discovered sitting on top of his vessel without any clothing on, according to a website article.

He was treated for skin and thirst on board the ship, according to local media reports, but he is often in great wellness.

When Mr. Robinson left Peru in July of last year, he started his record-breaking test. By December, he hoped to be in Cairns, Australia.

After leaving Luganville, Vanuatu, on Monday, he was on the final leg of his journey.

Mr. Robinson had stated that this final leg of the journey would be the” make-or-break leg” when speaking to ABC Australia from the nation last week.

His boat capsized on Thursday night for reasons that are still unknown, but the authorities were alerted by the activation of his disaster stress beacon.

According to a post on his website, Mr. Robinson was helped out of the water early on Friday morning by the P & amp, O Pacific Explorer, who then assisted him in ascending the rope ladder to the deck.

According to local media reports, the ship detoured for 200 kilometers( 124 miles ) to aid in the recovery.

Mr. Robinson thanked the ship’s crew,” whose sailing and competence ensured a safe rescue ,” in the statement.

The cruise ship was headed to Auckland in New Zealand, and Mr. Robinson would sail back to Brisbane from there, according to Tamu Tapaitau, a team member who was helping him with his effort.

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'It's like a thrill': More wildlife sightings in Singapore due to habitat change, people seeking out animals

INTEREST PEAKED DURING COVID-19, BUT HAS DIPPED

Another reason for the increase in sightings could be one Singaporeans have heard before – the pandemic. 

Like Ms Tsang, Mr Kwan saw a spike in interest in local nature walks during the COVID-19 period. Demand has since eased, but the guide still sees a substantial number of queries from schools, companies and community organisations.

ACRES’ Mr Kalai Vanan said the non-profit organisation was “surprised” by the number of calls it received during the pandemic. 

“We thought that we didn’t have to rescue because if people were not walking around, nobody’s going to see animals in distress. But we realised it’s the other way around.

“More people were calling us, which is strange because people couldn’t travel anywhere so people started roaming around. Naturally, with more people doing that, they’re going to find more injured animals, more stranded animals and that sparked the interest.”

People developed interests and hobbies that took them to nature, like hiking, cycling and photography. 

A downside to that was that people start getting too close to the animals, Mr Kalai Vanan said, cautioning against disturbing wildlife. 

Ms Tsang has seen people turn to her Facebook page for help when they glimpse an animal for the first time. 

“It’s also a social need. Sometimes when you see an animal yourself, you don’t know whether other people have seen it, you want to confirm … it’s really a tapir you saw,” Ms Tsang said. 

“We don’t know as much as the experts do, so we ask for more information online.”

Similarly, those who spot “rare” animals also approach NParks. 

“Community stewardship and engagement also play a key role in supporting NParks’ biodiversity management and monitoring efforts. Some of these ‘rare’ wildlife sightings were made known to NParks through feedback submitted by volunteers and the public,” NParks’ Mr Lee said. 

Those who actively seek out animals, like Dr Woo, are driven by their passion for seeing animals in their natural habitat. 

“I always thought that you only see such wildlife overseas. You need to go overseas, make a trip to one of the jungles overseas. 

“But in recent years I realise that you don’t really have to go overseas. You get to see wildlife in Singapore as well.”

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Women found in lorry in France face deportation

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Four of six women rescued from the back of a lorry in France on Wednesday must leave the country within 30 days, a French public prosecutor said.

The four Vietnamese and two Iraqi women were found by police after getting into the lorry, which they believed was heading for the UK.

It is unclear which of the four women are to be deported.

The other two have been authorised to stay in France pending asylum requests, a statement from the prosecutor said.

The women got into the lorry thinking the Irish-registered vehicle would likely transport them to England, Laetitia Francart, public prosecutor at the judicial court of Villefranche-sur-Saône said.

In fact, the lorry was delivering a shipment of bananas to Dunkirk and would then be heading to Italy.

When the women – thought to be migrants – noticed that the direction of the lorry had changed by checking their phone locations, they started to panic.

Struggling to breathe, one of the women managed to contact a BBC journalist and told them about their situation. Khue Luu was then able to alert French authorities.

Meanwhile, the driver of the lorry had also grown to suspect that there might be people inside the trailer, having heard what sounded like voices.

The driver then stopped in a lay-by and called the police, the prosecutor said.

French authorities eventually matched up the reports to the lorry, and upon investigating the vehicle found the six women inside the refrigerated trailer.

The temperature was 6C (42F) when it was opened, the prosecutor said, but all the women were reported to be in good health.

While the driver was initially arrested upon the discovery of the women inside, the prosecutor said he was not under suspicion of any crime.

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