Written by Anisha Ghosh
IIT Kharagpur recently inducted over 1800 new students in a vibrant Induction Programme.
While the event celebrated academic beginnings, a somber undercurrent of recent student suicides on campus has brought mental health to the forefront of the institute’s priorities.
During the program, Director Prof. Suman Chakraborty stressed on the crucial need for students to care for one another. He also pledged to enhance parental involvement through regular online meetings, aiming for a collaborative approach to student welfare. “We will take every input seriously, but parents should also take our inputs seriously,” Prof. Chakraborty stated, advocating for shared responsibility between the institute and families.
To address this growing poblem, IIT Kharagpur has launched a new wellness program called SETU.
It stands for Support, Empathy, Transformation, and Upliftment and aims to help students deal with emotional stress and mental health challenges.
It includes 24/7 online counseling, one-on-one therapy, and mental health support through trained professionals and peer groups. The institute also introduced a programme called “Campus Mothers”, where volunteers will provide a safe space for students to talk and feel supported.
However, some parents looking for strong actions highlighted that the recent tragedies are a stark reminder that academic success must not come at the cost of mental well-being.
As one of the nation’s premier institutions, IIT Kharagpur now faces the critical challenge of fostering an environment where students not only excel academically but also thrive in terms of their health and happiness.
“Biggest problem is our kids are being brought up in competitive environment from 1 to 12 including appearing for JEE where ranks matter than the overall personality. How can we build the culture of collaborative rather than competitive environment. They should learn from each other so that they understand things better.” said a parent.
(Anisha Ghosh is an intern at the Kolkata office of The Indian Express.)