In a 1st among IITs, Kharagpur gets student well-being dean | India News
KOLKATA: Arun Chakraborty, professor at Centre for Ocean, River, Atmosphere and Land Sciences at IIT-Kharagpur, Friday became the institute’s first dean of student well-being.TOI had earlier reported that IIT-Kharagpur director Suman Chakraborty announced the appointment during the induction programme for the new BTech batch on July 26. The post was created to ensure students’ mental health issues are not left unaddressed, especially after four student suicides on campus in seven months – the latest being fourth-year mechanical engineering student Ritam Mondal, who was found hanging in his hostel room on July 18.“This is possibly the first time in any IIT that a person of a dean’s status has been assigned solely to look after students’ overall well-being,” said the director. “Our institute has a huge number of students, and it is necessary to have a designated dean of student well-being to give special emphasis to welfare activities.”Chakraborty told TOI that while the role was challenging, it was essential. “We do not want any tragic incidents. Every student can approach us at any time. Even the smallest issues will be addressed. I’ve told students I am available 24×7 – they should not panic; we are here like parents,” he added.IIT-Kharagpur has 21 hostels housing 16,000 students. While there is a dean of student affairs, the director pointed out that “student affairs” and “student well-being” are distinct. The new dean will focus on identifying and addressing personal issues, while dean of student affairs will handle administrative matters like accommodation and discipline.Measures already in place at the college include the AI-driven mental wellness platform SETU, a restructured counselling centre, “campus mothers,” student task forces, and stress management workshops.
