MUMBAI: A 15-year-old boy reportedly died by suicide due to the fear of failing two Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examinations, according to Mumbai Police. The deceased was said to be under stress for a few days before his mother left the house on the day he took his own life.
The Chembur police took custody of the body and registered a case under Alternative Dispute Redressal (ADR). Further investigation is currently underway and details are awaited.
This is not an isolated case of a student dying by suicide in India. On March 16, a Class 11 student allegedly died by suicide in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow. According to the police, the student, a girl, died by hanging herself, and no suicide note was found. The father of the deceased schoolgirl alleged that his daughter was harassed by her school teacher and falsely accused of copying in exams. A case was filed as per her father’s complaint.
Earlier, on March 4, a 14-year-old girl reportedly died by suicide after a private school refused to let her sit for an exam due to non-payment of fees in the State’s Bareilly district. The deceased girl’s father stated that due to financial constraints, they were not able to pay her school fees on time. They requested the school administration to allow her to give the exam, but the school refused. The fee was somewhere around Rs 20,000-25,000, and the girl had aspirations to become a doctor.
The incidents of students dying by suicide in India due to academic pressure, bullying, and financial constraints are on the rise. The authorities and educational institutions must take measures to identify students who are struggling and provide them with the necessary support and guidance. It is imperative that students are made aware that academic performance is not the sole determinant of their worth and that there is always help available for those in need.