Mysuru: Unable to get smartphone for online classes, girl commits suicide

MYSURU: A Class X girl student from Saagade village under Chamarajanagar rural police limits in Chamarajanagar district committed suicide as her parents were not able to buy her a smart phone to attend online classes. She consumed poison on Monday late night.
After a post mortem today at district hospital, the body was handed over to the family. The Chamarajanagar rural police registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR).
Saagade is located 25 kilometres from the district headquarter Chamarajanagar.
According to the police, deceased student was studying in a local school and she was promoted to class X in June.
Chamarajanagar SP Divya Sara Thomas informed that girl's parents in their complaint to police informed that deceased was disappointed as they were not able to buy a mobile phone for her to attend online classes. "Parents informed police that they had assured the girl of arranging a mobile by month end. However, girl committed suicide by consuming poison," she said. "We registered UDR case," she said.
According to the villagers, girl's father is a tailor by profession and her mother was serving as an assistant mid day meal cook in a local high school. Both her father and mother had lost their livelihood due to the Covid 19 crisis.
Local resident, Mahadevaswamy K who is also the Saagade grama panchayat member said the family is poor. "Both of them are now working as the daily wage labors in the village for livelihood. Girl was promoted to the class X recently. Parents informed us that the girl was asking a mobile phone for the online classes," he said.
"Her parents are not in a position to buy a smart phone as they don't has any fixed income," he said.
However, Department of Public Instruction (DPI) officials from Chamarajanagar denied any connection between online classes and girl's suicide. "Immediately after I come to know about the incident, I inquired with girl's teachers. They informed me that she committed suicide due to personal reasons," said ST Javaregowda, DDPI, Chamarajanagar.
Call 1098
Meanwhile, activists urged the parents to call 1098 if they fail to convince their children on these issues as counselLING is necessary in such circumstances. "Many families are not in a position to buy smart phones for their kids to enable them to attend online classes. Many students are getting depressed after comparing their low quality smart phones with their peers. To convince such children, trained counselors' support is essential," said Nagasimga G Rao of Child Rights Trust.