Kolkata, May 10 — In response to a troubling rise in student suicides, IIT-Kharagpur has constituted a 10-member expert committee to assess and improve the mental health and well-being ecosystem on its campus. This move comes after four tragic student deaths within a span of less than a year.
The newly formed panel comprises a multidisciplinary team including psychologists, legal professionals, former police officers, educationists, counsellors, and alumni. The committee has been tasked with submitting a comprehensive report within three months.
According to a statement issued by the institute, the committee will evaluate the primary, secondary, and tertiary factors impacting mental health among students, faculty, and staff. It will also identify barriers to resolving mental health challenges and review existing initiatives while recommending additional measures to strengthen support systems.
The administration reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a “safe, inclusive, and supportive environment” for everyone on campus.
A Series of Tragic Incidents
The formation of the committee follows a string of suicides that have shaken the IIT-Kharagpur community:- May 4, 2025: Md Asif Qamar, a third-year civil engineering student, was found dead in his hostel room.
- April 20, 2025: Aniket Walkar, a student of civil engineering and naval architecture, died by suicide.
- January 12, 2025: Shaon Malik, a third-year undergraduate, was found dead in his hostel room.
- June 2024: Devika Pillai, a fourth-year biotechnology and biochemical engineering student, died by suicide.
The institute’s proactive step to establish a dedicated mental health committee marks a significant move towards acknowledging and addressing the crisis. The campus community now awaits the committee’s findings and recommendations.
