Centre sets up three-member panel to probe student suicides at IIT-Kanpur, ETEducation
New Delhi, The government on Thursday set up a three-member committee to review cases of student suicides at IIT-Kanpur and recommend measures to prevent such incidents and to enhance mental health and mental well-being support.
The three-member committee will be headed by Anil Sahastrabuddhe, chairman, National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), psychiatrist Jitendra Nagpal and Rina Sonowal Kouli, joint secretary (higher education) in the Union Education Ministry.
The three-member panel has been asked to submit its report within 15 days.
Two students died by suicide at IIT-Kanpur within the past month, prompting the government to set up the committee.
According to the Education Ministry order, the committee has been tasked with reviewing the extent of compliance by IIT-Kanpur with the Framework Guidelines for Emotional and Mental Wellbeing of Students in Higher Education Institutions issued in July 2023.
It has also been asked to review cases of student suicides in IIT-Kanpur, including examination of the circumstances surrounding such incidents, with specific reference to the availability, adequacy, and effectiveness of institutional policies, grievance redressal mechanisms, counselling services, and other student support systems.
The terms of reference of the panel also include the identification of gaps, systemic challenges, and areas requiring strengthening in institutional mental health and wellbeing frameworks.
It has been asked to make recommendations to the ministry for further measures to prevent student suicides and to enhance emotional and mental well-being support, and any other matter it deems fit.
The government order states that the committee may interact with stakeholders in IIT-Kanpur and may seek relevant records or information required for the discharge of its mandate.
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