Legislation to Tackle Student Suicides to be Presented in Rajasthan Assembly Today
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On March 19, the Rajasthan Assembly will table two important bills, including one focused on regulating coaching centres to prevent student suicides. The initiative aims to enhance student well-being and establish a framework for oversight and support.
Key Takeaways
- Rajasthan Coaching Centre Bill aims to regulate coaching institutions.
- Mandatory registration for centres with 50 or more students.
- Creation of a state-level counselling portal and helpline.
- Prohibition of arbitrary fees and provision for fee refunds.
- Implementation of strict penalties for violations.
Jaipur, March 19 (NationPress) On Wednesday, the Rajasthan Assembly will witness the introduction of two crucial bills, including one aimed at preventing suicides among students enrolled in coaching institutes through the regulation of these centres.
Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Premchand Bairwa is set to present the Rajasthan Coaching Centre (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2025.
This legislation seeks to regulate coaching centres and promote the well-being of students.
Among the bill's key provisions are: coaching centres with 50 or more students must register under the new law; the establishment of the Rajasthan Coaching Institute Control and Regulation Authority, which will be chaired by the Secretary-in-charge of the Higher Education Department.
To improve oversight and student support, a state-level portal and helpline for counselling will be launched.
Coaching centres will be prohibited from imposing arbitrary fees and must create a stress-free environment for students.
Provisions will also be made for refunding fees to students who choose to discontinue their coaching.
Failure to comply with the rules could lead to substantial fines, loss of recognition, and even confiscation of coaching centre property under the Land Revenue Act.
This initiative follows a directive from the Rajasthan High Court urging the government to take action against the alarming number of suicides among coaching students.
The state cabinet approved the bill on March 8, labeling it a welfare measure for students.
In addition to the coaching institutes bill, the Rajasthan Groundwater Management Authority Bill is expected to pass after debate. This bill intends to regulate groundwater extraction across the state to ensure sustainable use. Commercial and industrial users will be required to pay fees based on the volume of water extracted.
Key provisions of this bill include prohibiting extraction in over-exploited dark zone areas; unauthorized extraction from these zones may result in six months of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh; agricultural water use will remain unrestricted.
Initially, the bill proposed restrictions on farmers, but after opposition, the Select Committee removed these provisions.
The bill will create the Rajasthan Groundwater Conservation and Management Authority to oversee water extraction, regulate tubewell drilling in dark zones, and establish tariffs for non-agricultural water use.
The authority will consist of a chairman, several members, and two MLAs, who have been included in the revised version of the bill.
