NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Education on Thursday constituted a three-member committee to examine the recent student deaths by suicide at IIT Kanpur, following two such incidents within three weeks on the campus, the latest involving a 25-year-old student on January 20.
The committee has been directed to submit its report within 15 days, including recommendations on measures to prevent student suicides.
According to an order issued by the Ministry, the panel will comprise Prof Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairperson of the National Educational Technology Forum; Dr Jitendra Nagpal, senior psychiatrist at Moolchand Hospital; and Rina Sonowal Kauli, Joint Secretary, Higher Education, in the Ministry of Education.
Along with examining the spate of deaths by suicide at IIT Kanpur, the committee will also review the implementation of the Ministry’s ‘Framework Guidelines for Emotional and Well Being of Students in Higher Educational Institutions’.
The guidelines, issued in July 2023, aim to create an enabling, inclusive and supportive environment for higher educational institutions across the country.
Ramswaroop Ishwaram (25), a PhD scholar in the Department of Earth Sciences, allegedly died by suicide on Tuesday after jumping from the sixth floor of his residence. He was living on the IIT campus with his wife and three-year-old daughter.
Earlier, on December 29, Jai Singh Meena, a final-year BTech student from Rajasthan, was found dead in his hostel room. It is understood that nine of the 30 deaths reported across the 23 IITs in the country in the past two years involved students from IIT Kanpur.
The Ministry has set out four terms of reference for the committee. It will review the extent of IIT Kanpur’s compliance with the Ministry’s framework issued in July 2023.
“It 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,” the order said.
The committee will also identify gaps, systemic challenges and areas requiring strengthening in institutional mental health and wellbeing frameworks, and make recommendations to the Ministry for further measures to prevent student suicides and enhance emotional and mental wellbeing support.
The order added that the committee may interact with stakeholders at IIT Kanpur and seek relevant records or information as required.