In response to a growing mental health crisis, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi formed a 12-member panel in March 2024 to recommend much-needed institutional reforms. Headed by renowned psychiatrist Dr. Santosh Kumar Chaturvedi from NIMHANS, and comprising faculty, alumni, and student representatives, the committee was tasked with addressing deep-rooted systemic issues within the campus.
The formation of the committee was triggered by a spate of student suicides—five between 2023 and 2024—drawing urgent attention to the toxic academic culture that students had long flagged as detrimental to their well-being. Concerns included extreme academic pressure, an unforgiving grading system that fosters cut-throat competition, and persistent discrimination on the basis of caste and gender.
The panel submitted a detailed report with wide-ranging recommendations to transform the campus environment into a healthier, more inclusive space. Suggested reforms included the formal introduction of a comprehensive anti-discrimination policy, mandatory inclusivity and mental health training for students and staff, a reduction in first-semester academic load, and the establishment of counselling centres equipped to assist students from marginalized backgrounds.
Other proposals focused on encouraging peer collaboration over competition, revising leadership eligibility criteria, and integrating courses that nurture life skills alongside academics.
Despite the urgency and scope of the findings, there appears to have been little follow-through. The report was submitted in August 2024, but committee members report having received no updates about implementation—highlighting a concerning pattern where institutional committees are formed, only to have their recommendations ignored once the immediate pressure subsides.
IIT Delhi’s silence on the matter has further fueled concerns, with critics pointing to the administration’s reluctance to publicly engage with the issues raised. Ironically, the report itself warned against this very culture of bureaucratic complacency.
The situation serves as a wake-up call not only for IIT Delhi but for elite academic institutions across India. Campuses must foster environments that support, rather than strain, the mental and emotional health of their students. The stakes are too high for reform to remain just a recommendation—it must become action.
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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