Ministry forms 3-member panel after PhD scholar ends life at IIT-Kanpur

Taking cognisance of the student suicide at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, the Education Ministry has constituted a three-member committee to review cases of student suicides at the institution, including examination of the circumstances surrounding such incidents.

A 25-year-old PhD student died by suicide on the IIT-Kanpur campus earlier this week, marking the second such incident at the institute in less than three weeks.

The members of the committee -- including Prof Anil D Sahastrabudhe, Chairperson, National Assessment and Accreditation Council, Dr Jitendra Nagpal, Senior Psychiatrist, Moolchand Hospital and Member and Joint Secretary (Higher Education) -- will submit its report within 15 days.

The Education Ministry had issued the "Framework Guidelines for Emotional and Mental Well-being of Students in Higher Education Institutions" in July 2023, with the objective of creating an enabling, inclusive, and supportive environment across HEls in the country. The Committee will also look into review the implementation of the Framework Guidelines as well as to examine recent incidents of student suicides in IIT-Kanpur.

The Framework Guidelines emphasise the key interventions like sensitisation and capacity-building programmes for faculty members; orientation, counselling, and handholding mechanisms for students in HEls; early detection mechanisms for stress, distress, and vulnerability for immediate intervention; development of institutional Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and suicide prevention strategies; and establishment of buddy-mentor systems in a link-chain model, etc.

The committee will 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. It has also been tasked to identify gaps, systemic challenges, and areas requiring strengthening in institutional mental health and wellbeing frameworks; and to make recommendations to the Ministry for further measures to prevent student suicides and to enhance emotional and mental wellbeing support.