AIIMS nursing student suicide: Around 400 students hold protest, 2 tutors sent on leave, inquiry on

New Delhi: Around 400 Nursing and Paramedical students of AIIMS Delhi staged a protest alleging that the 21-year-old second-year BSc Nursing student allegedly committed suicide after being subjected to humiliation by 2 tutors for failing to pass three papers in the exam.

Demanding justice for the deceased student and action against the tutors, the protesters urged the institute’s director in a letter to suspend the two tutors who have been accused of repeatedly humiliating their batchmate in front of the entire batch which is claimed to have forced her to take the extreme step.

A day later after protest, the director asked the two accused tutors to take a temporary absence until their role in the nursing student's death is clarified in the investigation report conducted by the committee assigned to probe the incident.

Also read- AIIMS BSc Nursing Student Commits Suicide

Raising their voice against the alleged toxic environment faced by their batchmate, the students claimed that the nursing tutors humiliated her by saying that she was a failure and would have to study with juniors instead of helping her.

It was alleged that the student was from a Hindi-medium background and was having a hard time studying the course material for nursing studies as it is in English. It is believed that due to this reason, the student failed to get promoted to second year. 

Further, accusations have been made against certain faculty members who are alleged to target students personally. Despite attempts to raise concerns through proper channels, the students said, they had faced neglect and their grievances were dismissed.

Medical Dialogues team reported that a 21-year-old second-year BSc Nursing student allegedly died by suicide by hanging herself in her hostel room at AIIMS on Tuesday. The police recovered a suicide note from the spot in which she had expressed that she was depressed due to her nursing studies and preparation for the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam.

The protesting students described the deceased as a happy-go-lucky girl who was studying hard to clear the exams. 

One of the students told TOI, "We studied together in the first year, and since she could not clear some papers, she was not promoted to second year. Instead of helping her, the tutor humiliated her by saying that she was a failure and would have to study with juniors. Sometimes she shared her frustrations with us."

"She had even asked which vein should be cut to die. If we had known what was going on in her mind, we probably would have helped her. There were other students who faced similar problems," she added.

In a complaint letter to the director, the students alleged that the loss was due to academic pressure and mistreatment by certain faculty members. This has left them deeply disturbed.

"Such behaviour was unacceptable and must be addressed promptly. The current environment was leading to mental health concerns among students. We urge for better support systems and psychiatric consultation services," reads the letter.

A lack of consistent rules within the college was highlighted by them, as individual teachers enforced arbitrary standards."In the past, teachers had resorted to unprofessional behaviour by bringing personal matters and family members into disciplinary action, they said. Additionally, students who have faced academic setbacks were subjected to humiliation and discrimination instead of being supported," added the letter. 

Further, they demanded the suspension of the two teachers in the letter and sought compensation of Rs 1 crore for the family of the deceased.

Media cell in-charge Dr Rima Dada told TNIE, “We will have to comply with the government rules on compensation It has also been decided that there will be two clinical psychologists for students pursuing this course."

She further informed TOI, “the tutors have been told to go on leave, pending inquiry.”

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