91school children committed suicide in TN in 5 years

Chennai, Jan 21: As many as 91 school children have committed suicide during the last five years in Tamil Nadu either inside the school premises or at their residence, Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women Former Chairperson V Vasanthi Devi said today.

Talking to newspersons here, she said the main reason for the increasing number of suicides was stress and heavy curriculum, forced donation and exorbitant fees collected by the schools.

''Apart from this, in several cases it is due to torture, physical, mental and sexual abuse. About 39 suicide attempt cases are reported during the last five years,'' she said.

She alleged that several murder cases of students in schools and hostels were reported as suicide by school managements and police.

She claimed that about 250 school children were injured in the last five years due to negligence of school authorities.

Dr Devi said the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), responding to an appeal from a coalition of 22 NGOs in Tamil Nadu, conducted a public hearing on corporal punishment, all forms of torture, sexual abuse and neglect of children in shools and hostel at World University Centre here on January 23.

''The coaliation has submitted over 40 cases of abuse before the jury,'' she said adding ''of the total, 15 are girl victims and 25 boys from 33 schools and seven hostels.''

UNI