Senior Indian National Congress leader and former Member of Parliament Meenakshi Natarajan on Monday, 6 July raised alarm over the reported suicides of 12 children across India — including two girls from Madhya Pradesh — allegedly linked to depression, and announced a statewide campaign to spotlight the mental health and education crisis gripping students. Addressing a press conference in Bhopal, Natarajan called the deaths a societal emergency demanding urgent government action.

The 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' Campaign

The Congress will launch its 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' (Voices of Students) campaign with a two-day cycle rally from Indore to Bhopal on 14 and 15 July. The campaign is designed to amplify student concerns around education quality, unemployment, and mental well-being. Natarajan said the party would sustain a statewide outreach through public campaigns and protests beyond the rally.

What Natarajan Said on Student Mental Health

'The reported deaths of 12 children, including two daughters from Madhya Pradesh, have shaken the country. This is not merely a personal tragedy for the affected families but a matter that demands a sensitive and collective response from society and the government,' Natarajan said. She alleged that mounting academic pressure, employment uncertainty, and a shortage of counselling facilities were compounding student stress. 'Young people need support, guidance and opportunities, not indifference. Governments must treat mental health among students as a priority,' she added.

Allegations Against the MP Government

Natarajan also trained her criticism on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Madhya Pradesh, accusing Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of failing students, farmers, and unemployed youth. She alleged that the state's moong procurement quota was significantly lower than actual production, leaving farmers unable to sell at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), and demanded a revision of the procurement target. The Congress leader further alleged that democratic institutions, including the Election Commission of India (ECI), were facing growing pressure — a charge the BJP government has not yet formally responded to.

Broader Context: A Deepening Student Crisis

The reported deaths come amid a wider national conversation about student mental health. India has seen recurring incidents of student suicides linked to academic stress, competitive examination pressure, and limited access to psychological support — particularly in smaller cities and rural areas. Critics argue that state governments have been slow to institutionalise school and college-level counselling, and that employment anxiety following graduation has become a structural driver of youth distress. This is not the first time opposition parties have raised such concerns in Madhya Pradesh, but the Congress's decision to anchor a formal campaign around the issue signals an intent to sustain political pressure ahead of local elections.

What Comes Next

The Indore-to-Bhopal cycle rally on 14–15 July will serve as the campaign's opening salvo, with Congress workers expected to hold public meetings in districts along the route. Natarajan indicated the party would present a formal set of demands to the state government, including expanded school counselling infrastructure and a review of the moong procurement policy. The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh is yet to respond to the specific allegations raised at the press conference.