Kota’s District Collector, Dr Ravindra Goswami recently launched a new initiative called ‘Kamyab Kota’. The district collector will interact with coaching students in the city every Friday for dinner at their hostel. The goal of this weekly dinner is to gather and discuss any issues that Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) students may be facing.
The initiative was launched as part of the Kota district administration’s efforts to address student suicide rates. On January 26, Dr Goswami dined with female students at the Shiv Residency Girls Hostel in Kunhadi Landmark City, where he spent approximately two hours, according to The Indian Express.
Dr Goswami told the students that he came to Kota for coaching as a student but left soon after because he didn’t like it and that he later achieved success by studying independently. He stated that there are times when students experience confusion, indecision, and stress.
“In this case, there is a need to be strong and work wisely. Problems come to make us stronger. Instead of running away from panic, face them head-on. The future will be bright,” Dr Goswami advised students. He also asked students to always consider other options. Rather than having extended study sessions, Dr Goswami suggested students break up their study time into manageable chunks. In addition, he advised students to contact their hostel friends if they were unhappy or low.
Along with Dr Goswami, Chambal Hostel Association President Vishwanath Sharma, Assistant Director Public Services Gajendra Singh, Secretary Satpreet Singh, Manish Mundra, Raju Gautam, Sandeep Agarwal, Rajesh Kataria and others were also present at the dinner.
The new initiative was launched just days after a 19-year-old student who was preparing for NEET for admission to undergraduate (UG) medical courses allegedly died by suicide in Kota on January 23. It is the first such incident in the coaching hub since 2024. Meanwhile, reports state that 27 students, preparing for various competitive examinations, died by suicide last year in the district.
According to district administration officials, Kota is the hub of India’s test preparation industry, which is estimated to be worth Rs 10,000 crore per year. Students from all over the country arrive in large numbers after finishing Class 10 or 12 and enrolling in residential test-prep institutes. They also enrol in schools, the majority of which are for certification purposes.
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