Malappuram: A school student in Kerala has committed suicide as she was unable to attend online classes because her family did not have an android mobile phone.
Police said the deceased, Devika, was the daughter of a daily wager and studying in Class IX. She set herself on fire because she was suffering from depression due her inability to access digital classes during the lockdown.
Notably, the Kerala government had launched online classes named “First Bell” for school students during the lockdown. These classes are also telecast on VICTORS channel from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm from Sunday to Friday.
However, Devika could neither access the online classes nor view them as the TV in her home was also dysfunctional.
The death has sparked protests in Kerala, with opposition leaders accusing the state government of turning a blind eye to the plight of poor students, Outlook reported.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mullapally Ramachandran said, “Around 30 per cent of students can’t appear for the online classes. It is shameful that a student has lost her life fearing that her studies would be disrupted.”
Kerala’s Education Minister Prof C Raveendranath said he has sought a report on the girl’s death.
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