Kota announces ‘Kota Cares’ initiative: Biometrics, CCTV, 24/7 emergency response for student safety

“Kota Cares is about reimagining how we support the lakhs of students who come to our city chasing their dreams,” said District Collector Dr. Ravindra Goswami. “Through these comprehensive reforms, we’re creating a support system that addresses every aspect of student life – from affordable housing to mental health support to recreational needs. This is about transforming Kota into a city that cares for its students as much as it coaches them.”

The reforms, developed through collaboration between the district administration and various stakeholders, include multiple collective initiatives:

Housing and financial support

— Elimination of security and caution deposits across 4,000 hostels

— Standardisation of maintenance charges with a Rs 2,000 annual cap

— Transparent payment systems with mandatory receipts for all transactions

— Clear guidelines for room changes and vacation policies

Safety and security measures

— Mandatory gatekeeper training for all hostel staff

— Installation of modern safety infrastructure including CCTV and biometric systems

— Special provisions for women’s hostels including female wardens

— Compulsory Anti-Hanging Device certificates and Fire NOCs

— Regular night attendance through personal room visits

Student well-being initiatives

— Free access to Chambal Riverfront and Oxygen Zones

— Dedicated recreation areas in all hostels

— Mid-term vacation food services

— Emergency medical services

Support infrastructure

— Kota Cares help desks at railway stations and bus stands

— City-wide network of student support centers

— Coordinated response system for student assistance

Speaking on behalf of the city’s hostel associations, leaders Vishwanath Sharma, Sunil Agarwal, and Naveen Mittal stated, “These reforms reflect our collective commitment to student welfare. We’re not just providing accommodation; we’re creating homes away from home where students can thrive. Every measure being implemented under Kota Cares has been designed with student well-being at its core.”

According to the statement, over 1.25 lakh students enroll in the coaching institutes in Kota annually. The reforms acknowledge the unique pressures faced by these students and create a comprehensive support system to address them.

The implementation of these reforms is already underway, led by hostel associations that are proactively adopting the new guidelines. To ensure compliance and facilitate continuous improvement, the District Administration has set up a dedicated monitoring mechanism to gather feedback.  

This transformation, driven by the Kota Cares initiative, marks a significant milestone in the reform of the educational ecosystem and has the potential to serve as a model for other educational hubs across India.