A 12-year-old schoolgirl killed herself by suicide in Gujarat’s Rajkot after being frustrated with online classes and homework in the lockdown. Her father, who has run out of business in the lockdown, had recently bought her a smartphone for the online classes after much struggle.
According to a report in Ahmedabad Mirror, stress of online classes, coping with homework and the emotional stress of not being able to meet her classmates pushed 12-year-old Khushi to take the extreme step.
On Monday morning, her mother asked her to finish her homework when Khushi made an excuse and went inside her room. After some time, her mother went to look for the child when she found her hanging from the ceiling.
Khushi lived with her parents and younger brother and was recently admitted to the Gujarati-medium school. She was promoted to Class 8 in the mass promotion drive during the lockdown.
With the lockdown forcing schools resort to online classes, students had to procure means to take these classes on the internet.
According to the report, her father Rohit Shingadia, who runs an auto garage near their house, bought her a smartphone for Rs 10,000 to help her continue with her studies. The family hasn’t been able to pay their electricity bills, said a relative.
Khushi’s was the first smartphone in the family while her parents still use cheaper phones.
Schools and colleges have been shut across the country since March while students and teachers have been forced to take online classes due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
Schools are unlikely to open even in July as coronavirus cases continue to rise in the country.