IIT-Kgp listens to students’ call for mental health aid
Times of India | 3 April 2025
12 Kolkata: IIT-Kharagpur authorities has restructured and transformed the institutional role of its counselling centre, besides introducing reforms in the organisational set-up to support the mental health and wellbeing of studentsat the institute. A series of suicide deaths on the campus, the most recent being the death of a third-year electrical engineering student, Shaon Malik, in his hostel room in Jan, prompted students to demand a the centre's infrastructure revamp.
The institute has rechristened the centre as ‘Sarth', which stands for support, acceptance, resilience, therapy, and healing. "Two associate deans have been specifically given the charge to look after the physical and mental well-being of the students. An assistant warden has been designated to look after the well-being of students at the hostel. Sarth has also been brought under the dean of students' affairs," said an official.
Acting director Amit Patra said, "This is not merely a renaming exercise. We are broadening our vision and re-looking at it holistically to be a companion to the students." The institute is in the process of recruiting more mental health experts and counsellors.
"There is also a plan to introduce another online counselling platform for the students," said dean of student affairs, Bhargab Maitra, adding that the changes were being introduced after a series of discussions with the students. "Sarth aims to facilitate interaction between students and counsellors with a proactive approach," added Maitra. There will be group discussions and separate hostel-wise sessions as part of the outreach programme.
Students have welcomed the initiative.
Kolkata: IIT-Kharagpur authorities has restructured and transformed the institutional role of its counselling centre, besides introducing reforms in the organisational set-up to support the mental health and wellbeing of studentsat the institute. A series of suicide deaths on the campus, the most recent being the death of a third-year electrical engineering student, Shaon Malik, in his hostel room in Jan, prompted students to demand a the centre's infrastructure revamp.
The institute has rechristened the centre as ‘Sarth', which stands for support, acceptance, resilience, therapy, and healing. "Two associate deans have been specifically given the charge to look after the physical and mental well-being of the students. An assistant warden has been designated to look after the well-being of students at the hostel. Sarth has also been brought under the dean of students' affairs," said an official.
Acting director Amit Patra said, "This is not merely a renaming exercise. We are broadening our vision and re-looking at it holistically to be a companion to the students." The institute is in the process of recruiting more mental health experts and counsellors.
"There is also a plan to introduce another online counselling platform for the students," said dean of student affairs, Bhargab Maitra, adding that the changes were being introduced after a series of discussions with the students. "Sarth aims to facilitate interaction between students and counsellors with a proactive approach," added Maitra. There will be group discussions and separate hostel-wise sessions as part of the outreach programme.