(a) whether instances of depression and mental ailments are increasing among the students
appearing in the competitive examinations due to failure in these examinations in the recent
past;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for better career counseling and to provide
further opportunities to these students especially from rural areas to get employment?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) to (c) There has been some instances of depression and mental ailment. There is a
serious academic competition. Students have a difficult time with the demands of
classes, grades, choice of subjects and parental pressure. Accordingly UGC notified
Guidelines on “Safety of Students on and off Campuses of Higher Education Institutions”
dated 06.04.2015. These Guidelines are also uploaded on UGC website
(www.ugc.ac.in).Further in January 2016 UGC asked all Universities to set up a student
counseling system to deal with the problems which students might face. IITs have been
taking various steps as peer assisted learning, special languages classes for week
students in order to ease the academic stress. In addition, IITs conduct workshops/
seminars on happiness and wellness, regular sessions on Yoga, induction programs,
extracurricular activities including sports and cultural activities and appointment of
Student Counselors for overall personality development and de-stressing students.
Since ragging also affects the mental well being of students, in 2009, UGC
regulation on curbing the menace of ragging in Higher Educational Institutions was
made. These regulations have been further amended in 2016 by enlarging the definition
of ragging. These regulations are to be followed by all higher educational institutions.
The Ministry allocates Rs 5 crore every year to the UGC for undertaking publicity
campaigns against ragging in Higher Educational Institutions in the country. An Anti-
Ragging toll free ‘helpline’ 1800-180-5522 in 12 languages has been made operational
by the UGC with call centre facilities for helping victims of ragging, besides facilitating
effective coordinated action by all concerned.
In order to make education more relevant and to create skilled workforce for
employment, University Grants Commission (UGC) has implemented three schemes i.e.
Community College, B.Voc and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Kaushal Kendra under National
Skill Qualification Framework. These schemes facilitate close interaction between the
institutions offering skill-based courses and the service industry. In addition, All India
Council of Technical Education implements Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna for
technical institution (PMKVY-TI) to train youth in professional skills through approved
technical institutions.
Bachelor of Vocation (B.Voc.) studies programme introduced in 162 institutions
of higher learning in 80 trades with intake of 17600 students. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
Kaushal Kendras have been approved by the UGC in 64 universities and colleges. These
centres function as the apex centres for skill development in Universities and colleges.
The Community Colleges offer credit based courses which allows multi-point entry and
exit for skill up-gradation or employment market, banking on credits and allows re-entry
into the higher education.. Under the scheme through UGC and AICTE put together, a
total of 273 institutions (mainly polytechnics) are offering skill courses in about 83
trades. The courses are aligned as per NSQF from 3 to 5. UGC has enrolled 12440
students so far, of whom 9330 students have been placed successfully.
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