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<ul><li>India’s premier technical institutions have witnessed several student suicides in the last few years. </li><li>IIT Guwahati witnessed a suicide case of a student intern from Japan — who was in India for an exchange programme. </li><li>In 2019 alone, about five students have committed suicide at IIT Madras and three at the Hyderabad campus. </li></ul>Each day, about six students commit suicide due to <a href="http://www.pondiuni.edu.in/smhic/objective.html">academic failure</a> in India. And there are many such students at IITs. An exchange student from Japan committed suicide at IIT Guwahati on November 21. "He was supposed to return to his parent university on November 30 after completion of the exchange programme. The police found him hanging from the ventilator in the bathroom," IITG public relations officer told IANS. IIT Madras which is home to some 8,000 students is also under police radar. They are probing the case of 19-year-old Humanities student — <keyword id="8339525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fathima-Lateef">Fathima Lateef</keyword>, who allegedly killed herself in her hostel room on November 9. As per the police, Lateef’s scores were low in her internal exams. However, her parents say that alleged religious discrimination and harassment by a university professor is the cause of her death. Around the same time, an 18-year-old IIT Delhi died after falling from the fifth floor of the hostel building — and police suspect a suicide. While a few such stories do come to light after they make headlines, several others are buried in the case files. In 2019 alone, about five students have committed suicide at IIT Madras. In the last ten years, as many as 14 such cases were registered at the institute. Last month, a third-year student at <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/crime/story/iit-hyderabad-student-suicide-haunting-note-1560601-2019-07-02">IIT Hyderabad</a> committed suicide leaving behind a note saying, “Sorry I turned out to be a waste.” The student quoted academic pressure as the cause. And, this was the third suicide on campus in the last eight months. India has the highest student suicide rate with nearly 38,000 students committing suicide since 2015. The country witnesses nearly 28% of global suicides despite accounting for 18% of the population worldwide. Suicide is the second highest cause of unnatural dealths among youngsters. Every 40 seconds, a person commits suicide. According to WHO, every person who dies by suicide leads to more than 20 people trying to attempt it. Government push for wellness centres The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has laid out a counselling plan for country’s most prestigious institutes — Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) — and other higher educational institutions, The Print <a href="https://theprint.in/india/education/professional-counsellors-iit-student-suicide-hrd-ministry/299898/">reported</a>. Delhi, Mumbai and Madras campuses of IITs <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/society/news/india-wants-more-iits-to-have-wellness-centers-to-curb-stress-and-depression/articleshow/71424045.cms">have wellness centres</a>. Roughly 10% of students seek counselling at IIT Madras, the Indian Express reported adding that a psychiatrist visits the campus everyday. The government now wants other institutions to have them as well. It is considering associating with more than 300 counsellors, including private partners via online mechanism. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/article/fear-self-loathing-and-stress-affect-students-appearing-for-competitive-exams/articleshow/71392742.cms">Fear, self-loathing and stress affect students appearing for competitive exams</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/society/news/suicides-in-india-are-increasing-but-there-is-no-official-data/articleshow/71437559.cms">India stopped counting suicides 3 years ago — now, it’s the worst in all of South East Asia</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/society/news/india-wants-more-iits-to-have-wellness-centers-to-curb-stress-and-depression/articleshow/71424045.cms">India wants more IITs to have wellness centers to curb stress and depression</a>

Student suicides spike significantly at IIT campuses

<ul><li>The Indian government wants to address mental disorders and well-being of students and prevent suicides at the higher educational institutions. </li><li>India has the highest student suicide rate with over 38,000 students committing suicide since 2015. </li><li>It is looking to associate with more than 300 counsellors, including private partners via online mechanism by next month. </li><li><keyword id="6627695" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Psychiatric-Society">Indian Psychiatric Society</keyword> (IPS) — regulatory body of <keyword id="6354774" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mental-health">mental health</keyword> professionals — has formulated a team to tackle mental health issues of college-going students. </li></ul>The Indian government wants to address mental disorders and well-being of students and prevent suicides. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has laid out a counselling plan for country’s most prestigious institutes — Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) — and other higher educational institutions, The Print <a href="https://theprint.in/india/education/professional-counsellors-iit-student-suicide-hrd-ministry/299898/">reported</a>. Each day, about six students commit suicide due to <a href="http://www.pondiuni.edu.in/smhic/objective.html">academic failure</a>. India has the highest student suicide rate with nearly 38,000 students committing suicide since 2015. The decision was taken during the IIT council meeting where the ministry directed the IITs to establish wellness centres, looping in professional counsellors. “Yes, the matter was discussed at the IIT council meeting and all the IITs have been asked to make sure that they have wellness centres and professional counsellors,” ministry officials told ThePrint. This decision comes after a student at <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/crime/story/iit-hyderabad-student-suicide-haunting-note-1560601-2019-07-02">IIT Hyderabad</a> committed suicide leaving behind a note saying ‘Sorry I turned out to be a waste.’ The student quoted academic pressure as the cause. Of the 23 IITs, Delhi, Mumbai and Madras campuses have wellness centres. The government now wants other institutions to have them as well. It is considering to associating with more than 300 counsellors, including private partners via online mechanism by next month. The ministry also asked the institutes to consult with faculty members to spot students under stress or any <keyword id="35697" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="mental-disorder">mental disorder</keyword>, so as to provide them counselling. On the similar lines, Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) — regulatory body of mental health professionals — formulated a team to tackle mental health issues of college-going students. It consists of three psychiatrists — Dr. Kersi Chavda, Dr. Avinash Desouza, and Dr. Amrit Pattojoshi. “India is a young country. We are all set to have a huge population between the age group of 16 and 25. They struggle with increasing competition, internet, mobile addiction, drug use, and a constant tussle between traditional and modern. We are staring at an increased number of depression and suicide cases,” Dr Chavda<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/a-task-force-to-address-college-students-mental-health-issues/article26525922.ece"> told </a>The Hindu. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/article/fear-self-loathing-and-stress-affect-students-appearing-for-competitive-exams/articleshow/71392742.cms">Fear, self-loathing and stress affect students appearing for competitive exams</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/not-sleeping-enough-might-affect-your-exam-scores-says-mit-study/articleshow/71417038.cms">Not sleeping enough might affect your exam scores, says MIT study</a>

India wants more IITs to have wellness centers to curb stress and depression

Just two days ago, the news of a depressed17-year-old boy - son of an IIT Bombay professor, committing suicide hit the national headlines. His suicide note mentioned that he could not cope with <keyword id="929880" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="academic-pressure">academic pressure</keyword>. Such cases have been on the rise, especially among IIT aspirants, <keyword id="28443" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIT-students">IIT students</keyword> and children of IIT faculty members. Earlier this year, a 20-year-old student living at the IIT-B campus and a son of a faculty member, stabbed himself to death after an altercation with his family members. Last year in April, a 17-year-old daughter of a faculty member had taken her life by jumping off a building in the campus. While the administration is still trying hard to deal with this challenge, <keyword id="6364832" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIT-Kharagpur">IIT Kharagpur</keyword> has taken a step forward to help students deal with their daily stress. It's compelling students, who are otherwise huddled in their tiny dorms buried under an avalanche of books, to move out of their rooms and mingle with others. How this is being done is rather interesting - the college reportedly cuts off power in its hostel for an hour every now and then in a bid to urge students to come out of their rooms and speak to others. The college is also installing new vending machines for free tea and coffee. “Students are meeting increasingly less. This naturally creates a lot of problems as they end up being alone. This small step will help them connect when they take a 10-minute coffee or tea break,” an official was quoted as saying. The latest suicide was reported only a few months ago where a fourth-year student of IIT Kharagpur allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in his hostel room. Increasing levels of stress and depression are said to be the most common reasons why incidents of student <keyword id="81853" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Suicides">suicides</keyword> is rising in IITs. Steps by IIT-KGP A report earlier had stated that IIT Kharagpur had also urged the students to spend quality time under a tree canopy and speak to counsellors that help students deal with psychological disorders. Student evaluation with the assistance of psychiatric professionals is on the cards. 3-credit courses on mental health and wellbeing will also be run from next year. The institute is also planning to start an orientation programme with parents.

IIT Kharagpur cuts power every day to compel stressed students to move out of their dorms for tea, coffee breaks

We are not even half way through the year, and Kota – the coaching hub for the hyper-competitive engineering and medical school exams – has reported 5 student suicide cases already. Just rewind to last month when India learnt of the death of a young girl who jumped off a building. The shocking bit was this girl from Delhi had cleared JEE, but she took her life because she was not satisfied with her results. Others have either hanged themselves or set ablaze. 
 This has been going on for a decade now in this city that reinvented itself in the late '90s as a coaching hub. But successive governments have come and gone without making too much of a difference to the unhealthy environment that's building up in this city slowly for years now. Except for a few counseling sessions when the media heat is on, no significant Centre-state government ordered efforts have been made to address the issues of students. Precisely why, more than 70 students have committed suicide in the past five years here, including 29 just last year - a rate much higher than the national average of 10.6 suicides per 100,000 people in 2014, reported by the <keyword id="91016" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Crime-Records-Bureau">National Crime Records Bureau</keyword>. 
 
After the records have started showing worrying trends, Kota district administration has tried to start a few activities to instill positivity among aspirants. There are helpline centres to address grievances, counselors to tell students about multiple career options, ‘Fun Day’ on weekends to encourage students to relieve their stress via recreational activities like dancing, singing, painting, doing breathing exercises. Several guidelines to coaching institutes have been given including starting weekly offs for students, augmenting the number of counsellors, providing fees refund etc. Students are being told that success or failure in competitive examinations is not end of the world, but the efforts have lacked in making a significant impact to the suicide toll numbers. 
 
At a time like this, the recent move by the Centre to come up with an IIT preparation App and release solved question papers of all joint entrance examinations held in the last 50 years, comes as a huge respite for those who aspire to crack IIT hereon. First, here's what Smriti Irani’s HRD Ministry is planning to do: 
 
- Release solved question papers of all joint entrance examinations held in the last 50 years free-of-cost through an app and a portal (in next two months) 
 
*This content will be available in 13 languages 
 - Prepare questions for <keyword id="1629686" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="JEE-Exams">JEE exams</keyword> keeping in mind the Class XII syllabus to reduce the difficulty level of the JEE 
 
- Ask IITs to help aspirants with video and audio lectures 
 
- Take action against fake universities who harass students to cough up money in the middle of academic session without any disclosure 
 
Currently, more than 1.25 lakh students head to coaching institutes in Kota every year with dreams of cracking the highly competitive entrance exams. They pay anywhere between 50,000 and a lakh for annual tuition, but it’s only 10,000 students, even fewer, who are accepted. Rising middle-class aspirations, parents' unrealistic ambitions for their children, poor teaching standards in schools and a fiercely competitive college admissions race have spawned a 2000-crore test preparation industry here in the past few decades. 
 
Psychiatrists helping depressed students in Kota say some students are unable to study, concentrate, remember, sleep or eat in the rigorous study schedule and high-pressure environment here. Adding to this is the stress of living alone. They often complain of headaches and breathlessness. Many just weep. They feel guilty because their parents have spent so much money and have high expectations. Counsellors in Kota reveal that the biggest stresser is the batch-shuffling system. If the bimonthly test scores are low, students suddenly find themselves moved to a group with low-scorers and mediocre teachers. The best teachers go to the top groups. This keeps the students on the edge all the time. The parents keep calling them to scold. 
 
If the Test App developed is well designed and functions well, all of the above problems will no longer remain problems. Moreover, students would no longer have to head to Kota and get exploited and harassed at the hands of the private coaching centres here. 
 
In a butshell, Coaching for IIT will become accessible on fingertips, student-friendly because of multiple languages, will be free-of-cost, enriching because of lectures by IIT professors themselves and free of any harassment by private institutes. Students won’t have to move a different city from their hometowns, away from parents, friends or relatives for preparing in a high pressured environment all alone. 
 
Let's hope this decision will see the light of the day, and instill fresh hope in the lives of students from here.

The New IIT Preparation App, and what makes it The Best Move by any Government in curbing rising Student Suicides so far

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=smriti+irani&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Smriti </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=smriti+irani&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Irani</a>’s demotion has surprised many the same ways as it had when she was appointed as the Union Human Resources Development minister by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=prime+minister+narendra+modi&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a>. 
 
In the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=modi+cabinet+reshuffle&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Modi Cabinet rejig</a>, her demotion to Textiles Ministry is also stunning, but many predicted that she won’t be able to hold on to education ministry for long. 
 
Several issues eclipsed her stint at the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=HRD+ministry&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">HRD ministry</a>, starting with her degree controversy. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Modi-Cabinet-Reshuffle-Smriti-Irani-loses-education-heres-a-list-of-who-got-what/articleshow/53067875.cms">Modi Cabinet Reshuffle: Smriti Irani loses education; here’s a list of who got what</a> 
 
Irani was mired in a controversy over her claims of possessing a Yale degree. Secondly, she scrapped the four-year format at the Delhi University and went back with the three-year format, which was against the wishes of the VC and UGC. 
 
The HRD Ministry was also at loggerheads with the Niti Ayog over accreditation and other issues. Experts say Irani took Niti Ayog as interference. 
 
Her handling of suicide case of Dalit scholar at Hyderabad Central University, Rohith Vemula, was also criticised by many. 
 
The recent Jawaharlal Nehru University row involving Kanhaiya Kumar also didn’t add to her sheen. Irani also played with fire when replaced German with Sanskrit as the third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas in 2014. 
 
Irani was also at the centre of the controversy when she was accused of intervening in the affairs of IIT-Delhi prompting the resignation of Director RK Shevgaonkar, two years before his term. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/These-are-the-5-ministers-who-were-dropped-from-Modis-Cabinet/articleshow/53062829.cms">These are the 5 ministers who were dropped from Modi’s Cabinet</a>

These are the possibilities why Smriti Irani was removed from education ministry

"I am not fit for this field," I murmured, while sitting in a classroom with a hundred alien faces around me. It had been an hour since the question papers were distributed and I was still staring at it helplessly, struggling to find even one question which I could solve confidently. Not one of them seemed familiar. Every question was new, fresh, complex and annoying - all at the same time. 
 
My relationship with the subject 'Physics' had anyway been that of hatred ever since I was introduced to it. It worsened over the years to the extent. I would get nightmares. I still remember how I shivered when I had to appear for Physics paper in Class XII Board examinations. 
 
Well, this one that I was sitting for was the mother of all engineering entrances: AlEEE. The name has now been altered to Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). After colouring the options randomly in the multiple choice question (MCQ) paper, staring at fellow students wondering what they were busy writing, what was it they knew and I didn't; drinking water three times needlessly; looking out of the window, there was still enough time left for FREEDOM. Three hours had never felt so long before. 
 
Did I tell you yet, the invigilator who was noticing me all this while apparently thought I was trying to cheat. Feeling discomforted, I was once again forced to stare at the question paper. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/9-ways-you-can-turn-a-job-rejection-into-your-biggest-career-strength/articleshow/51714231.cms">ALSO READ: 9 ways you can turn a job rejection into your biggest career strength</a> 
 
But, as I pretended to write, not-very-pleasant thoughts and emotions started bundling up inside and within seconds, unable to hold it anymore, I let the tears out silently, consciously making efforts to not make any sounds. Getting noticed would have been embarrassing. How badly I wanted to vent it all out that day, except that I was in a hall packed with over a 100 students who I had never met before and an emotional breakdown would only end up getting me thrown out of the examination hall. 
I told myself repeatedly "I am just not fit for this field." The sight of my parents waiting outside the exam center made me nervous. They would throw at least a 1,000 questions at me in one breath - "Kaisa tha? Ho jayega? Kitne attempt kiye? ata tha ya nahi?” (How was it, will you crack it, how many questions did you attempt, did you know the answers to the questions?) 
 
How will I look them in the eye? All I would have to offer them would be: "Haan, Theek tha, dekhte hain. (Yeah, it was okay, let's see)." Not very assuring, but by all means, the safest reply. 
 
Such is the pressure students face when they are stuck in a stream which is not best suited for them. Despite the freedom my parents gave me in Class X to choose any stream at my own will, doomed was the day when I got up and said 'OK, I will opt for Science'. 
My decision was the fallout of constant peer pressure, family's growing concerns for me and my inability to understand what I wanted to do in future. 
 
But if I look back, can Class X pass-outs be really blamed if they are clueless about which stream they want to opt for. At 15 years of age, how was I supposed to know if electrical engineering was good for me or if I would be better off as a physiotherapist. Or if I had the potential to become the best fashion designer in the country. And since I didn't know that, how could I decide whether I wanted Science, Humanities or Commerce. 
 
A few of my mother's friends had an answer to it. "Science me 93 aye they na Class X me, Science le lo beta.” (You scored 93 in Science in Class X, opt for Science stream) 
 
I never paid heed to their advice and I still don't think it's a very good idea simply because a child might have loved studying Science in Class X and performed exceptionally well, but might struggle to cope up with the same subject in Class XI, considering the vast difference in the curriculum of both the classes. Same applies for Maths, Chemistry, Biology, English and the others. The basis for choosing a stream, to my understanding, should be based only on a child's interests and capabilities. 
In case, he/she hasn't been able to figure it out, let me say, any amount of grilling by parents, teachers and relatives cannot help him/her discover it in a day or two. It can only lead to pressure, all sorts of it: Peer pressure, pressure to perform at school, in coaching classes, pressure to be at par with 'the neighbour's exceptional kid', pressure to deliver all the time. 
 
In the process, the biggest damage is done to the self confidence. Before parents even realize, in a few cases, the child is already overwhelmed and decides to commit suicide. As unfortunate a decision as it may be, the child is not to be blamed, the parents are. 
 
Life would become so much more easier if instead of panicking at the last moment, parents observe what their kids love doing right from their childhood days, keep a patient ear for the problems they face academically, and most importantly accept them with their capabilities and incapabilities. 
When I saw my friends planning to enroll themselves in engineering coaching classes and aiming to crack IIT, I knew they had a well thought out plan, I didn't. They knew what they liked, I didn't. I couldn't become them, no matter how hard I tried. I was a victim to the constant grilling sessions at home. My parents did not want me to opt for 'Science' and crack IIT like them (or maybe they did but they never imposed it on me), but because they wanted me to tell them 'this is what I want to do' and on not finding that confidence, they felt disheartened, at times irritated also. 
They would then try to show me the "right" direction. Science is a "better" stream, I was advised. And what makes it better? Nobody knew. I later understood it was just the perception around it that makes it better than others. 'SCIENCE' was for the brainy, 'COMMERCE' was for sons and daughters of businessmen, and 'ARTS' was for those who weren't capable of doing anything else. Sometimes, even parents give in to peer pressure. "Sharmaji ke ladke ko dekho, IIT crack kar li. Apne future ka kuch socha hai”(Look at Sharma's son, he has cracked IIT. You waste your time thinking) 
 
No child is unfit for any stream, he/she is just better suited for another field. There lies a huge difference in saying 'You can't do Science' and 'You are more suited for Humanities', the former being condescending and demotivating, also reflecting lack of acceptance, while latter instilling confidence and displaying support. 
 
Recently, during a conversation with my cousin, who will appear for her Class X exams next year, I realized times haven't changed since 2006. 
 
"Relatives come over. Their unnecessary suggestions are depressing," she said, explaining what had happened. 
 
"Beta, kitne number aye Class 10th me. 85%? Haan, Class X toh kaafi easy hota hai, asli time toh ab hai." (How much did you score in Class X? Okay, 85%. Yes, it’s very easy to score marks in X grade, your real test starts now) 
 
It was like revisiting the past. I remembered how I faced similar questions from the so-called well wishers, who would show fake concern and often derive sadistic pleasure out of other's unhappiness. 
 
"Class X ke results toh aa gaye. Kitney aye apki beti ke? (The Board results are out, how much did your daughter score) 
 
"Beta, ab kya plan hai. Doctor banna hai ya engineer? (What’s your plan now, want to become a doctor or engineer) 
 
"Mere bete ke 92 per cent aye hain, apki beti ke?" (My son scored 92%, what about your daughter) 
 
Succumbing to all sorts of pressure, I’d said to my parents back then: "OK, I will opt for Science". I lied to myself and fooled them at the same time. It's pertinent to mention here that all this while if there was one person in this world who repeatedly told me "NO, DON’T EVEN THINK OF ENGINEERING", it was my 'software engineer' brother. 
 
What IRONY! 
 
Well he was sort of right. I was doomed for the next two years. It would require a hundred pages to rant about what I went through those two years and so cut to the most crucial bit: How things unfolded after the horrifying AIEEE exam. 
 
NOT HAVING A PLAN WORKED... 
 
From here, started the next phase: brighter, beautiful, exciting and fun.... 
 I accidentally learnt about <keyword id="58267" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Journalism">Journalism</keyword> course in <keyword id="6360099" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Delhi-University">Delhi University</keyword> during a casual visit to my relatives who were professors at the prestigious institution. In no time, I had already cracked the entrance exams and cleared the interview. As the session began, I found myself enjoying studying media theories. 
 
For all these years, books had become my enemies and suddenly, I realized what it felt like studying with interest. I felt like the caged bird that was let free to explore, learn and fly all by itself. 
 
Looking back, I thank myself for not having a plan. If I had stuck to the stream I was in, probably I would be a ‘suffocated' engineer today. 
 
Yes, the decision to become a journalist came too late for me after having made my share of mistakes. It took me a meeting with dear ones to end up in the field which was best suited for me. For you, it could be something else. 
 
All these years, I have learnt and accepted that the basics of my career have been different from others. I cannot become as exceptional as the neighbour's kid. I can't be like those fellow students who went to IIT coaching classes and are budding engineers today, simply because I am not them, I am me. 
 
And why not having a plan has helped: Because when you don't know what you want to do, you are open to embracing this whole world of options at your disposal based on your likings and disliking. And when you figure out this is what you like and that is what you dislike is when you start making informed choices. Most importantly, if you opt out of it you know only you are to be blamed. 
 
So, if you are stuck in the 'science' stream or any other stream for that matter, for whatever reasons, life hasn't come to an end. There is still hope, don't lose it.

Why Not Having a Career Plan is the Best Plan

<keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>, in an interview to ANI, said the opposition alleging that his government is a 'suit-boot ki sarkaar' is definitely better and more acceptable than being labelled a 'suitcase' (ki sarkaar), and satirically added, that after ruling for sixty years, the <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> has suddenly remembered the poor. 

	Excerpts:
 

	1. In a scale of 1-10, how would you grade your government?
 

	It is for the people of this country to grade and evaluate us. How can I take away their right? I have presented my report card to the country. Recently, media has published the findings of some surveys. You would already have seen them. I can only say that we have laid a solid foundation on which the people can rate us.
 

	2. You came in with the promise of 'Acche Din.' Have you been able to meet the goals that you set for yourself in the first year of the government?
 

	Yes. I am fully satisfied with the work that we have done. The most satisfying part of this year is that we have lived up to the promise that our intentions will be pure and our actions will be driven by long-term national interest. Recall the situation one year ago. Massive corruption at various levels of Government gave rise to scams on a regular basis. Our precious natural resources were going into the hands of a chosen few. In contrast, there are neither any charges of corruption against my Government nor any scandals. Corruption was seen as the biggest problem. We have given a clean, transparent and efficient Government. Burey Dino Ki Vidayee Hui hai. (Bad days are over). Is this not Acche Din for the country?
 

	3. What has been the single big success in the past year? 
 

	The achievements and successes of my government are numerous. However, I know that the success of a government's journey lies in reaching the last man. Therefore, our efforts were directed towards the poor and marginalized. We have also paid special attention to remote corners of the country. Our objective is to transform quality of life, infrastructure and services. We have worked simultaneously on all fronts which bring a smile on the face of the common man. I can give you some examples. From controlling food prices to enhancing farm productivity; improving Railways to strengthening Roads; generating electricity to its 24x7 availability; building school toilets to setting up IITs, IIMs and AIIMS; building houses for the homeless to upgrading our heritage cities; cleaning surroundings to bridging the digital divide; making world class products to skilling and employment generation; strengthening the banking system to funding the unfunded; ensuring labour welfare to providing social security to common man; rejuvenating rivers to irrigating fields; from enhancing co-operation with States to deepening foreign relations; we have worked at an energetic pace and with innovative spirit. 
 Bringing back black money was a major electoral promise, but then your party president, <keyword id="6355521" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amit-Shah">Amit Shah</keyword> gave the word 'jumla' to it and Arun Shourie criticized the procedures adopted by the finance ministry. How committed is your government in bringing back black money to India? 

	My Government is fully committed on the issue of Black Money. We want to crack down severely on tax evasion and black money. I had taken up this issue with world leaders during the G-20 summit. In our very first cabinet meeting, we formed an SIT. Then, we presented a new legislation in Parliament which is very stringent. We want to make it more difficult to evade taxes and siphon money abroad. We are also aggressively pursuing cases against those who have stashed funds illegally in foreign banks. Recently the names of some such persons have been revealed. We are also trying to move towards cashless transactions. We want to make maximum use of ICT in our tax administration.
 

	At the same time, we want to remove the discretion which causes corruption and generation of Black Money. Hence, we promulgated ordinances in sectors like coal and mines. It has proved to be a good step. We have generated Rs. 3.30 lakh crore for the country so far through transparent auction of some coal mines. Similar is the case with auction of spectrum. I can say that if your intentions are noble, you are sure to get success and required support.
 

	5. Key bills like the Land Acquisition Bill has got stiff opposition from the opposition. They have been able to create doubts about the government's intention. What do you have to say? 
 

	Opposition to our Land Bill is totally unjustified and unfortunate. We have not made any changes for private industry. Moreover, if you have money, you don't need a Land Acquisition Act to accumulate land. Some individuals have done so in Rajasthan, Haryana, Shimla, Delhi etc. Land acquisition becomes necessary for government-driven strategic and development activities, especially in undeveloped areas. 
 

	This too is done mostly by State Governments. We have made changes only in response to demands of the States. The benefits of these changes will also accrue to the rural poor in terms of irrigation, housing, electrification, as well as better physical and social infrastructure.
 
 

	In this country, the Land Acquisition Act was almost 120 years old. The Congress-led Governments used the same Act after independence. Suddenly, before the last Parliamentary elections, the Congress went to another extreme by legislating an Act which is neither in the interest of farmers nor in the interest of the country's development. 
 

	Now, they are not even ready to sit and discuss. We believe in dialogue with all political parties. I have personally appealed in Parliament that we are ready to open a dialogue with political parties and consider their suggestions. I hope that the parties will cooperate on issues of larger national importance without getting into political calculations. 
 

	6. How are you going to convince the farmers of this country that you mean well?
 

	The proposed Land Acquisition Bill focuses on benefitting the farmer and balancing the long-term interests of the nation. The world is changing fast. Even farmers need canals to irrigate, roads to transfer products from farms to markets. They need hospitals, schools and houses. Farmers want modern amenities in their vicinity and jobs in formal sectors for their sons and daughters. I have always believed that if we want inclusive development, we need amenities. We need to match the development of such amenities with agricultural growth. This is what the Bill strives to do while safeguarding the interests of farmers. Our amendments only aim to do away with the bureaucratic bottlenecks in the 2013 Act. I am sure the farmers of this country will understand where their real welfare lies.
 

	7. Agriculture is in distress in the country. To a large extent the problem is endemic and decades of mismanagement have resulted in the present situation but how does your government plan to stem the tide of farmer suicides and farming stress?
 
 The root causes of the problem find mention in your question itself. This is a very important issue and the Government is concerned about it. We have responded to the recent agrarian crisis with alacrity. We have undertaken several reforms. The <keyword id="6362177" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="union-government">Union Government</keyword> has enhanced the relief norms for compensation against crop loss by 50%. 

	The limit of minimum crop damage, for grant of compensation, has been reduced from 50% to 33%. Norms have been relaxed to allow procurement of damaged food grains at MSP rates. The target of agricultural credit has been enhanced in our two consecutive budgets. 
 

	But as you said, the problem in agriculture is endemic. Nothing much was done for six long decades. But we have started long-term steps for the farm sector. To address the issue of access to irrigation for every farm, and efficient utilization of water, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has been started. Blue Revolution which aims to improve production and productivity in the fisheries sector is also an action point. We have launched the soil health card scheme. The price stabilization fund with a corpus of Rs. 500 crores has also been set up for perishable commodities. Rashtriya Gokul Mission has been commenced with the objective of conserving and developing indigenous cattle breeds. We have made honest and sincere efforts for rural development. I have recently launched the Kisan Channel for giving timely information to farmers on inputs and markets. In the coming days, I would like to see more focused action on increasing Farm Productivity; Rural Industrialization; Skill Development in rural areas and rural trades, and faster Investments in Rural Infrastructure including cold chain.
 

	8. The opposition has termed your government as suit boot ki sarkar. What is your take on this allegation? 
 

	Suit-boot is definitely more acceptable than suitcase. After ruling for sixty years, the Congress has suddenly remembered the poor. People of this country have suffered and remained poor due to shortsighted policies of the Congress. Many countries of the world have surpassed us on all accounts including poverty removal. Congress did incremental work so as to keep the issue relevant for next election. Did the coal and spectrum scandals or the CWG fiasco benefit the poor? Everyone knows who were their beneficiaries - some chosen industrialists and contractors. The result of Congress's politics and governance of sixty years is that poverty is still our biggest challenge. One-fourth of the families are without shelter. Health, education, water, electricity and roads are even bigger unrealised dreams for a large number of citizens of this country. You should ask them- If you were pro-poor, why does poverty still exist in India?"
 

	9. Opposition says that your government is pro-industrialists.
 

	Those who gave away precious natural resources like coal and spectrum to their favourite industrialists have no right to say this. We are working for the common man of the country. 
 
 
 
 

	We implemented the Jan Dhan scheme and opened more than 14 crore bank accounts for financial inclusion. Earlier also, there were banks, as well as people without bank accounts. What did they do all these years?
 

	The so called pro-poor have been just repeating that there is leakage in subsidy. We used technology to ensure that LPG subsidy reaches the targeted person directly; We have launched MUDRA Bank for financing 6 crore small vendors and businesses 61% of whom are SCs, STs, OBCs and Minorities; We have launched the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana which the Congress did not think of in sixty years; We have planned to see that by 2022, no family remains without a roof over its head; The Soil Health Card scheme has been launched to enhance farm productivity and reduce expenses, thereby enhancing the farmer's income. 
 

	We have come out with a comprehensive social security scheme for the poor and marginalised, old and those with low income levels; Swachh Bharat Mission has been started to see that health and hygiene issues of the poor do not affect the working capacity and output of the poor and labourers; Railways, on which the common man travels, is being changed for the better.
 

	We have set up the Skill Development Ministry to enhance employability of the youth to whom we are committed to provide jobs through initiatives like 'Make in India'. In the past, the country had been led into an economy of jobless growth.
 

	We provided for reservation of women in the police forces of Union Territories. This was done even when there were no elections around the corner. 
 

	Through the regime of coal auction that we have put in place, more than Rs. three lakh crore have already been generated for the less-developed states of India. This money will be used for the poor of those states.
 
 These are just a few examples. Why were these things not done in the past sixty years. Who prevented them? Their worry is not that we are not pro-poor. Their worry is that they are being exposed as not being pro-poor. People are asking them: "If <keyword id="6360789" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi-Government">Modi Government</keyword> can think and do this in six to nine months, why could you not think and do it in sixty years." 

	10. You have travelled to 17 countries in 12 months...something that nobody expected you to do as you were seen as a novice on foreign policy matters. But you seem to enjoy running the country's foreign policy. Any comments? 
 

	Foreign engagements are international obligations on the part of the Prime Minister. All Prime Ministers have to do this. Moreover, this is an integrated world. We have to attend international, multilateral and bilateral summits, and build ties with our neighbours and other nations. Our foreign policy is mature and there is a full-fledged mechanism to pursue it. I have only added an element of dynamism to it. We have strived to strongly further our economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region. We have endeavoured to nurture new economic partnerships and tap reserves of energy, minerals, technology and finance from major economies.
 
 11. In real terms, do you see that the Chinese will actually deliver on the financial pledge they have done, that the US will open up its markets for India, that Pakistan will give up its anti-India agenda? That our smaller neighbours will stop seeing us as a bully? Yes, I am sure that the commitments and agreements will be implemented. We have received a commitment from the Government of <keyword id="6355311" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Japan">Japan</keyword> for facilitating public and private funding of 3.5 trillion Yen - or approximately $35 billion dollars - over the next five years; there are agreements with China on two industrial parks and intended investments of 20 billion US dollars; there are investment plans of about 42 billion U.S. dollars from U.S. companies over the next five years. <keyword id="6358826" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Russia">Russia</keyword> has proposed to manufacture helicopters in India. With Australia and Canada, we have signed civil nuclear cooperation agreements, and other agreements to strengthen our energy security. With the United States, we have moved forward in implementation of the civil nuclear agreement and signed a significant partnership agreement to use renewable energy for rapidly expanding rural access to energy. There has been good response from financial institutions, including pension funds from Korea, Canada, Australia and the US. There is a strong support in all major economies for our "Make in India" programme. 

	In the neighbourhood, there has been forward movement on the 5600 MW Pancheshwar project in Nepal, that was stuck for the last 25 years. Similarly, with Bangladesh we have settled the land boundary issue. We are working with a spirit of mutual benefit. There is no question of bullying anyone. Our recent help to Nepal during the natural calamity shows that our approach is brotherly. With Pakistan too, we will pursue our long-standing approach. We will continue our efforts to advance cooperation and connectivity, without compromising our national security. 
 

	12. If we were to return to domestic issues, you have come for criticism from many for not being able to reign in vitriolic elements in your party who have made disparaging remarks against minorities. What do you say? 
 

	Our Constitution guarantees religious freedom to every citizen and that is not negotiable. The tradition of welcoming, respecting and honouring all faiths is as old as India itself. As Swami Vivekananda said: We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. This principle of equal respect and treatment for all faiths has been a part of India's ethos for thousands of years. And that is how it became integral to the Constitution of India. Our Constitution did not evolve in a vacuum. It has roots in the ancient cultural traditions of India. I expect that everyone will understand and respect this.
 

	13. Why do some elements in your party feel emboldened to say awful things even though they ought to know that a Prime Minister of India cannot really support bigots in his cabinet? 
 

	I have said this before and I say it again: any discrimination or violence against any community will not be tolerated. My position on this is very clear: Sab ka saath, sab ka vikas. We stand for each of the 1.25 billion Indians regardless of caste or creed and we will work for the progress of each of them. Every faith in our country has equal rights; it is equal not only before the law but also before society. 

	 
	As published in ET.

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