Kota student deaths: Rajasthan minister slams coaching centres, says they’re only engaged in making money

“I want to tell the parents, too, that their kids are not getting ahead because of coaching but because they are smart. You give money to coaching centres and they threaten and trouble your kids. What right do the coaching people have to hold exams every second or third day and misbehave in class?… They demoralise them,” he said.

He said that a “coaching mafia” has come up and that the government should take strong action.

“The Chief Minister has given power to SPs (superintendents of police). The SP and the collector should not come under the influence of coaching centre owners. They should take action as suggested by the CM. If they don’t take action, the public will. I have not heard a single coaching centre operator coming forward and expressing sorrow. They are only engaged in accumulating money,” Khachariyawas said.

He also asked why coaching centres were not installing nets to stop students from dying by suicide by jumping from their buildings. A 17-year-old student in Kota had jumped to his death from the sixth floor of his coaching centre on Sunday.

“I want to tell SPs and collectors to go and check themselves. There is an order from the government. If you won’t check, Congress organisations across Rajasthan will check. If you install big nets, how can a child jump from the top? Coaching centres don’t spend one rupee for the safety of the children,” Khachariyawas said.

The two deaths by suicide on Sunday took place after the two students had appeared for a test at their coaching institutes. Following this, the Kota district administration has barred coaching centres from holding such tests for the next two months.