IIT Kharagpur — Responding to a tragic rise in student suicides, the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) has announced a groundbreaking change: for the first time, parents of incoming BTech students will be invited to participate in the induction programme. This initiative, proposed by an independent experts’ committee, seeks to address the growing issue of parental pressure, which 85% of surveyed students identified as contributing to stress and anxiety.
IIT Kharagpur: Background to the Initiative
IIT Kharagpur has suffered a distressing string of student suicides—four in the past seven months, including a fourth-year mechanical engineering student, Ritam Mondal. In response, the institute formed an external experts’ panel in April‑May 2025, including counsellors, psychiatrists, legal experts, educators, and alumni. Their mission: assess root causes and recommend systemic reforms. The panel’s findings highlighted undue parental expectations as a key stressor for students .
What’s Being Implemented
- Parent-Focused Induction Session
Aimed at bridging the understanding gap, this segment will explain the ethos of IIT education and discourage overemphasis on quantity of internships. Director Suman Chakraborty emphasized that learning outcomes rather than mere prestigious internships should be prioritized . - Digital & Campus Wellness Tools
The programme will also launch the SETU (Support, Empathy, Transformation, and Upliftment) platform—an AI-based app for anonymous self-reporting and early alerts for mental stress—complemented by volunteer “campus moms” who offer empathetic support . - Hostel Oversight and Monitoring
Enhancements include appointing full-time student support professionals and introducing facial-recognition at mess entrances to flag students skipping meals—a sign of possible distress . - Counselling & Emotional Resilience Training
The committee recommends recruitment of more counsellors, mandatory counselor-hostel interactions to reduce stigma, and the integration of life-skills, socio-emotional learning, and emotional resilience into the curriculum .
Deeper Objectives Behind the Changes
- Parental Awareness: Help parents align expectations with IIT’s intense academic environment.
- Wraparound Support: Blend technological tools and human care to support at-risk students.
- Shift Culture: Move focus from competitive CV building to genuine holistic development.
Director Chakraborty stressed the importance of engaging parents to address mismatched aspirations and help children navigate IIT’s environment .
Broader Induction Context
Historically, IIT-KGP began inviting parents in 2024, integrating them into orientation days that spotlight academic, administrative, and cultural aspects . This year’s expansion is a direct response to the mental health crisis.
IIT-KGP infrastructure spans over 2,200 acres with 15,671 students (2025), the first IIT established in 1951 .
Voices from Campus
- A Teacher’s Insight: Many students endure multiple internships, often arranged by parents, hoping to boost placement records—this creates immense pressure.
- Professor’s Observation: Anxiety about job prospects emerges two years before placements; mentorship is helpful, but family guidance often goes beyond faculty influence.
These insights fueled the panel’s recommendation to involve parents in orientation.
Timeline for the New Policy
- Induction Week: July 25–28, 2025 — a special parental segment will be integrated into the existing orientation.
- Future Adjustments: Based on outcomes and committee’s full report (expected in two weeks), the programme may evolve further.
Broader Context & Replicability
IIT-KGP’s approach is pioneering within the IIT ecosystem. Tools like SETU and campus moms may serve as national models for emotional support in higher education, especially given the alarmingly high student-to-counsellor ratio .
These changes reflect global trends prioritizing student mental well-being, combining technology and personalized intervention.
Official & Informative References
- IIT Kharagpur — External Committee on Student Welfare
- IIT Kharagpur Admissions & Induction Programme Schedule
- AI-Enabled Wellness App ‘SETU’ – Media Overview
- Mental Health Standards in Higher Education – UNESCO
The inclusion of parents marks a strategic shift at IIT Kharagpur—moving from student-only interventions to a community-based support model that recognizes the critical role families play in student mental health. It is a bold step in creating a safer, more understanding environment for India’s future innovators.
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