Kolkata, 26 July (H.S.): In the wake of four student suicides within the past seven months, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has launched a comprehensive mental health and student welfare initiative titled 'SETU' — Support, Empathy, Transportation, and Upliftment. The new platform aims to create an inclusive, tech-enabled, and student-centric support ecosystem on campus.

Announcing the initiative, IIT Kharagpur Director Prof. Suman Chakraborty said that ‘SETU’ is not just a helpline or a counseling service but a holistic framework combining empathy with technology to ensure student well-being. The term 'Setu', derived from Sanskrit meaning 'bridge', symbolically represents a transition — from isolation to connection, mental distress to resilience, and tradition to innovation.

According to institute spokesperson Prateek Dama, the initiative was developed in direct response to the tragic deaths of four students: Shaun Malik (January 12), Aniket Walker (April 20), Mohammad Asif Qamar (May 4), and Ritam Mandal (July 18). These incidents triggered widespread concern about academic pressure and mental health challenges faced by students at elite institutions.

Under the SETU framework, a range of support services have been launched, including one-on-one therapy sessions, psychiatric care, group discussion forums, and round-the-clock online counseling through the “YourDOST” platform. Participation in these services is confidential, with all student identities protected.

One of the key innovations under this initiative is the introduction of an AI-powered emotional health monitoring system. Deployed across hostels and academic blocks, the system is designed to discreetly track students’ emotional states and flag early warning signs, enabling timely intervention.

In addition to technological measures, the institute is working to foster a culture of shared responsibility for mental health. Student-led welfare committees and hostel-level units will play a central role in building awareness and peer support systems.

The administration emphasized that SETU is a proactive step toward institutionalizing mental wellness and creating a safer, more compassionate environment for all students.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh