In a tragic incident, an intermediate student studying in a private junior college in Andhra’s Kadapa district, committed suicide on Friday.
16-year-old K Naga Chalam took his own life at his residence in Matli Vaddupalli under the Veeraballi police station limits, after he was unable to cope up with his studies and became irregular to class, according to reports.
He was studying at the Kakatiya Junior College in Rayachoti town in Kadapa district. The deceased’s father worked as a daily wage labourer, and he took the step when no one was at home.
Speaking to TNIE, CI Narasimha Raju said that a suicide note had been found, that claimed that the tutor of the college reprimanded the student for lagging behind in studies, with the teen claiming that he was poor in understanding Mathematics.
In the suicide note, the boy reportedly said that no one was responsible for his death, the TNIE report states, adding that the police were trying to verify its authenticity.
A case was registered with the Veeraballi police.
After several cases of student suicide were reported over the past few months in Andhra Pradesh, the state government swung into action last month, to warn the managements of Junior Colleges, who are the main offenders.
“There are various reasons that are driving students to suicide, the prime cause being mounting stress and pressure. Even parents are exerting pressure on kids for high score. Performance grading of students in colleges, health (problems), family problems, love failure and depression are some of the reasons. Some students are ending their lives (because they are) not willing to stay in hostels. Some are unable to cope with the high standards set by their institutes,” Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had earlier said.
He also pointed out that the students were just made to study all day, and forced to appear for tests on holidays, with no provisions for extra-curricular activity.
"It’s not right to turn students into machines and robots. We will severely punish such managements,” Naidu added.