IIT Kharagpur Launches Substance-Abuse SOP To Ease Student Distress
Times of India | 6 July 2026
Kolkata: In a move designed to prioritise student safety and prevent substance abuse, IIT Kharagpur is introducing a help-seeking policy where any student who seeks medical assistance in good faith — whether for themselves or a peer — will be protected from disciplinary action. This is part of the standard operating procedure (SOP) for substance abuse prevention and is built on the core principle that a culture of fear drives the problem underground. It shifts the focus from stigmatisation to prevention, rehabilitation and student well-being, encouraging students to proactively seek help for themselves or peers without fear of disciplinary action.
However, to achieve accountability, every student must sign an annual anti-substance abuse undertaking, countersigned by parents or guardians, starting this academic session. This will be a precondition for hall allotment, semester registration and examination. A prevention committee will be formed and a substance abuse squad will carry out surprise inspections. For cases outside the scope of voluntary medical help-seeking, there will be a graduated scale of punishments designed to handle violations with a mix of reformative action.
“The help-seeking amnesty provision is designed to encourage early intervention, timely medical support and open communication. A culture of fear discourages help-seeking; a culture of trust encourages recovery. Our substance abuse SOP is built on this principle,” said director Suman Chakraborty.
The initiative is modelled after templates from globally renowned universities like MIT and Cornell and aligns with Section 64A of the NDPS Act. An official said, “To maintain protection, a student must undergo prescribed counselling sessions and rehabilitation. To ensure students can access help without fear, a 24x7 helpline will be launched.”
A teacher pointed out, “Substance abuse among students has increased manifold and sometimes it triggers mental health issues.”
Chakraborty added, “The institute has a responsibility to maintain a safe and healthy campus environment. So, we are creating a system where students can seek assistance for themselves or their peers without hesitation, while ensuring that repeated violations are addressed through proportionate and progressive accountability. Our graduated response framework therefore distinguishes between those who seek help and those who repeatedly violate norms despite support and counselling. The emphasis is on prevention, rehabilitation and student well-being, not stigmatisation.”
Among the graded punishment provisions, those caught for the first time will be handled with reformative focus resulting in an official warning, mandatory counselling, parental intimation, a fine and community service. “A repeat offender will be suspended and debarred. An FIR will be filed within 24 hours against a student and he will be expelled if found to be involved in peddling or commercial activities,” said a source.
Box
Every student must sign a mandatory annual anti-substance abuse undertaking. It must be countersigned by a parent or guardian
This will serve as a mandatory precondition for hall allotment and semester registration
Any student who seeks medical assistance in good faith — whether for themselves or a peer — will be protected from disciplinary action
It is modelled after templates used by MIT and Cornell
This is conditional upon the student successfully completing counselling and rehabilitation and ensures confidentiality