35,950 students died by suicide between 2019-21: Govt says in parliament

In a recent revelation, the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment disclosed to the Parliament that a staggering 35,950 students in India succumbed to suicide between 2019 and 2021. The disclosure came in response to a query from Janata Dal (United) member in Lok Sabha, seeking information on the number of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students who took their lives due to social discrimination.

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Abbaiah Narayanaswamy, acknowledged the absence of specific data on suicides linked to social discrimination among SC and ST students.

Narayanaswamy, however, provided insights from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), stating that the number of student suicides surged from 10,335 in 2019 to 13,089 in 2021. In response to questions about measures taken to address social discrimination, the minister highlighted initiatives by the Department of Higher Education, including the establishment of counseling cells and various mechanisms such as SC/ST students’ cells, equal opportunity cells, students’ grievance cells, students’ grievance committees, and liaison officers in educational institutions nationwide.

Furthermore, Narayanaswamy emphasized the existence of legislative measures like the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act 1955 and the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) (PoA) Act, 1989, aimed at preventing disabilities arising from 'untouchability' practices and atrocities against SC and ST members, including students.

Depressing data

▪️Over 35,000 students committed suicide between 2019-21

▪️Number of student suicides on the rise
2019: 10,335
2020: 12,526
2021: 13,089

▪️MoS Social Justice to Lok Sabha: No specific data on number of SC/ST students impacted by social discrimination

— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) December 6, 2023