IIT Kharagpur moves to prevent suicides, removes ceiling fans, adds 'Campus Mothers'

NEW DELHI: Faced with a troubling spike in student suicides , IIT Kharagpur is taking an unusual but decisive step, downsizing ceiling fans in hostel rooms to make them unusable for self-harm. The initiative is part of a larger mental health push aimed at protecting students from moments of impulsive distress.

“This is not a solution to mental health, but in a moment of crisis, the absence of a tool can mean the presence of life,” said institute director Suman Chakraborty, speaking to PTI.

A campus on edge

The elite institute has witnessed four student suicides in 2024 alone, the latest being 21-year-old Ritam Mondal , a fourth-year mechanical engineering student, found dead in his hostel room on July 18, just days after returning from vacation.

In response, IIT Kharagpur has formed a 10-member fact-finding committee and launched a slew of initiatives:

• ‘Campus Mothers’: Female faculty and staff act as emotional mentors.
• 24x7 mental health support , with permanent psychiatrists on campus.
• Monthly parent check-ins to flag warning signs early.
• Barcoded helplines on every hostel room door for instant access to counselling.

Phased fan replacements

The plan to replace ceiling fans in all 21 hostels, home to nearly 16,000 students, will roll out in phases. “We can’t give a timeline just yet, but the decision has been made,” Chakraborty said.

By reducing access to means of suicide while strengthening emotional scaffolding, IIT Kharagpur is trying to change the script on campus tragedies, from silence and stigma to support and survival.