The count of students enrolled in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Schools, and other educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the Union Government, who tragically lost their lives due to suicide.
The issue of student suicides in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Navodaya Schools is a matter of concern for both the Central and State Governments, as school education is a concurrent list subject. While the majority of schools fall under the purview of State/UT Governments, the government has taken various preventive measures to address this issue and provide psychological support to students, teachers, and families. The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 recognizes the importance of education in building character, ethical values, and preparing students for employment. In addition to cognitive development, the aim is to create well-rounded individuals with 21st-century skills.
The NEP 2020 emphasizes the need for quality education that develops individuals who are thoughtful, creative, and have expertise in specialized areas of interest. It also highlights the importance of student wellness, including fitness, good health, psycho-social well-being, and ethical grounding. Integrating sports in education is recognized as a means to foster holistic development.
The National Curriculum Framework for School Education provides guidance on addressing mental health concerns through counseling, emotional regulation, and positive motivation. The Ministry of Education has launched the Manodarpan initiative under the ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’ to provide psychosocial support to students, their families, and teachers during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative includes a national toll-free tele-helpline for students seeking support on mental health concerns.
Live interactive sessions called ‘Sahyog’ are organized for students with practicing counselors on PM e-Vidya Channels. These sessions are held from Monday to Friday and can be viewed on PM e-Vidya Channels and the ‘NCERT Official’ YouTube Channel. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has formulated a National Suicide Prevention Strategy to prioritize suicide prevention as a public health concern.
While the Ministry of Education does not maintain separate data on student suicides, it implements two fully funded Central Sector Schemes, namely the Kendriya Vidyalaya Scheme and Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme. Kendriya Vidyalayas have provisions to engage counselors on a contractual basis to address mental health issues. According to information received from Navodaya Vidyalayas, there have been incidents of suicide among students belonging to different social categories in recent years.
To support the emotional well-being of students in Navodaya Schools, toll-free helpline assistance has been introduced for expressing concerns, dealing with exam stress, and maintaining emotional health.
The “Happy Hours” initiative has been implemented in all Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) with the aim of fostering positive conversations, sharing humor, and organizing various activities. The objective is to ensure that students conclude their day on a positive note and commence the following day with a sense of hope, happiness, and optimism. Additionally, each JNV is equipped with two qualified Counsellors, one male and one female, to provide necessary support and guidance.
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