Telangana student of Delhi LSR college dies by suicide worried over financial burden of education

A 19-year-old Telangana student of Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College for Women in Delhi has allegedly died by suicide worried about pursuing education in view of her family's poor financial condition, prompting Rahul Gandhi to mount an attack on ruling BJP at Centre.

Congress leader accused Modi government of destroying countless homes due to 'deliberate' lockdown and demonetisation, while student groups in national capital std protests over woman's death.

Members of Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) protested outside residence of Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank", and Left- affiliated All India Students 'Association (AISA) std an agitation outside Delhi University's Arts Faculty.

LSR college manment denied that student had reached out to college authorities on scholarship.

Aishwarya, an IAS aspirant, was found hanging at her house in Shadnagar in Telangana's Ranga Reddy district on vember 2, police said on Monday.

second-year BSc (Hours) in Mamatics student had returned from Delhi in March this year after those staying in hostel were asked to go home by college authorities in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

In a suicide te purportedly written by her, teenr said she did t want to burden her parents with her educational expenses, police said.

family had even stopped education of Aishwarya's younger sister to try to ensure she pursued her education.

Her far G Srinivas Reddy said his daughter was worried over continuing her education due to financial problems and was thinking over it for past several days.

She had secured a good rank in intermediate second year and got a seat in LSR. He took loan and admitted her in college, Reddy said.

"I am a mechanic, but my work is also t doing well. She was worried about next year's college fee," he told mediapersons in Hyderabad.

family's SOS to actor Sonu Sood, who had reached out to many hapless families during lockdown, following deceased's requirement of a laptop or phone for attending online studies, also went unanswered.

"re was reply from him... college administration also said hostel facility will be given only for one year," he said.

In his complaint, Reddy stated his daughter had recently asked him for money for her studies and he had told her it was t immediately possible and that he would obtain a loan to meet needs, police said.

In purported suicide te, student blamed one for taking extreme step and said she was ending her life due to financial problems. Aishwarya sought forgiveness adding that she was t a "good daughter".

"body is responsible for my death. My family is incurring a lot of expenses. I am a burden... My education is a burden..

I cant live without education," she purportedly wrote in te.

Aishwarya, who was awarded INSPIRE merit scholarship by Department of Science & Techlogy, also mentioned that it needed "to be released for at least one year." Condoling her death, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Modi government of destroying countless homes due to 'deliberate' lockdown and demonetisation.

"My condolences to family members of girl in this very sad moment.

BJP government destroyed countless homes due to deliberate demonetisation and countrywide lockdown.

This is truth," Gandhi said on Twitter, a day after fourth anniversary of NDA government's move to demonetise high value currency tes--Rs 2000 and Rs 500.

Meanwhile, students and women groups std protests in Delhi on Monday, demanding justice for deceased woman.

NSUI national secretary Lokesh Chugh said "scholarships are to reward a student's academic achievement and educational prowess." He alleged Aishwarya committed suicide after being denied scholarship for over a year by government and that she had written to administration about problems she was facing.

"But unfortunately, she received response from authorities. This is just a recent example of how imperative scholarships are for students.

When government delays provision of funds to students, it puts m and ir families under immense pressure," he added.

LSR principal Suman Sharma, however, denied that student had reached out to college authorities.

"We have a counsellor at college to help students if y are facing any challenges, emotionally or mentally.

However, body knew about her state of mind.

It is unfortunate. We wish she had reached out eir to her teachers or counsellor or anybody in college," she said.

In a statement, AISA expressed solidarity "with all forces dedicated to deliver justice to family and student community." All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) said "in a country where gross enrolment ratio of girl students into higher educational institutions shows a patically skewed figure, a girl such as LSR student, who struggled to reach Delhi with dream for education, has been killed."