India-based Start-Up Tackles Student Suicides with Career Clarity Program
A Bengaluru-based start-up, Edvizo, formed by IIT and AIIMS alumni, has launched an innovative program to address the alarming issue of student suicides in India by providing students with informed career choices. The initiative, designed by an IIT Guwahati alumnus, offers career clarity through exposure visits to various IIT campuses across the country.
Addressing the Mental Health Crisis
Research indicates that the profound pressure and expectations faced by more than 90 million students in India each year, who heavily rely on private coaching centers to prepare for competitive exams, often result in serious mental health issues and, in extreme cases, suicides. The National Crime Records Bureau reported a five-year high in student suicides in 2021, with over 13,000 students taking their own lives. Shockingly, since 2018, 61 students from prestigious institutes such as IITs, NITs, and IIMs have tragically died by suicide. The urgency to address this alarming trend is further highlighted by the fact that 27 students have already taken their lives in Kota (Rajasthan) in 2023 alone.
The National Level Common Entrance Examination (NLCEE) Program
Responding to this critical issue, Edvizo has introduced the National Level Common Entrance Examination (NLCEE) program, aiming to provide students with valuable insights into potential career paths and steer them away from despair. The NLCEE program carefully selects students based on their academic performance and potential, granting them the unique opportunity to spend four to five days on an IIT campus. During their stay, the selected students interact with esteemed IIT professors and students, visit various departments and laboratories, and gain a deeper understanding of different career options. What distinguishes this program is that it extends the invitation not only to students but also to their parents. Edvizo covers all expenses, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder this invaluable experience.
Empowering Students with First-Hand Knowledge
In 2022, Edvizo sent 30 students on a seven-day exposure visit to IIT Bombay, followed by another 30 students to IIT Guwahati. These exposure visits provide students with first-hand knowledge of various career options, empowering them to make more informed decisions about their future. Through these visits, students set higher aspirations and experience personal and professional development, fostering their overall growth.