Hostel wardens and staff in Kota will undergo professional training in various areas, including mess management and psychological counseling, to address the growing number of student suicides in the coaching hub. This initiative follows a record number of student suicides this year, with 23 reported so far.
Three hostel associations in Kota – Chambal Hostel Association, Coral Hostel Association, and Kota Hostels Association – have signed an MoU with Jai Minesh Tribal University to develop special Hostel Management certificate courses for wardens and staff. Each year, over 2.5 lakh students come to Kota to prepare for competitive exams like JEE and NEET.
Naveen Mittal, President of Kota Hostel Association, emphasized the need for this training, stating that hostels often employ untrained staff who may not know how to professionally handle students or recognize signs of stress and depression. The courses will last for six months and cost Rs 8,000, with an aim to encourage hostel owners to support their staff in taking the training.
The university has requested hostel associations to conduct a survey to determine the number of employees and their roles in hostels across Kota. Based on the findings, course details will be finalized, and efforts are underway to ensure that the training can be delivered without disrupting the daily routines of staff members.
Given the rise in suicides, authorities have taken several measures, including the installation of anti-hanging devices in fans, preventing coaching institutes from conducting exams for two months, and placing anti-suicide nets in hostels. Additionally, wardens, mess workers, and tiffin service providers are being enlisted to identify signs of depression or stress among students and report any concerning behavior.
