Over the period from 2005 to 2024, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have witnessed a troubling trend, with a reported 115 student deaths by suicide. Among the most frequently cited reasons for these tragedies are academic pressure, failure in examinations, caste discrimination, and incidents of ragging. At IIT Kharagpur, four undergraduate students died by suicide in 2025, with the most recent case occurring on July 18.
In light of these incidents, IIT Kharagpur established a 10-member committee tasked with identifying the various factors affecting the mental health of students, faculty, and staff. This group includes legal experts, counselors, educationists, former law enforcement officials, alumni, and psychologists. A spokesperson for the institute stated its commitment to fostering a “safe, supportive, and inclusive environment” for everyone on campus.
In response to the situation, students and various organizations expressed their anger, grief, and disillusionment online, highlighting concerns such as inadequate mental health support, lack of effective counseling systems, peer pressure, and administrative indifference. One online commenter criticized authorities for performing superficial initiatives under the guise of care, suggesting such measures allow them to evade accountability.
In July 2025, IIT Kharagpur announced the “campus mothers” initiative as part of its Support, Empathy, Transformation & Upliftment (SETU) program. Alongside an AI-driven wellness app, this initiative aims to provide emotional support to students through community engagement with “campus mothers,” as articulated by Professor Suman Chakraborty, the institution’s director. He emphasized that women who have experienced motherhood possess unique capabilities for emotional support, although this approach has sparked debates about its efficacy and inclusivity.
While some activists and mental health professionals welcomed the initiative, others expressed skepticism regarding its implementation, describing it as patronizing and potentially misogynistic. Concerns were raised surrounding ethical considerations, particularly regarding confidentiality, since participating volunteers could include staff and faculty.
Critics argue that the “campus mothers” initiative oversimplifies a complex issue rooted in systemic problems like caste discrimination and institutional negligence. The report by Sumedha Mittal published in Newslaundry underscored ongoing casteism within IITs, with significant evidence linking such discrimination to cases of suicide. The narrative surrounding campus deaths is particularly stark for students from marginalized backgrounds, especially those from Dalit, Muslim, tribal, and underprivileged communities.
The reliance on maternal figures for mental health support has led some to argue that this initiative perpetuates outdated gender roles, effectively placing the burden of emotional labor on women while infantilizing men. Critics suggest that this reliance does not address the root causes of mental health issues within academic institutions.
The implementational structure of “campus mothers” raises concerns about whether mere acts of symbolic care can adequately address systemic failures. The persistent issue of how to effectively support student mental health in the face of institutional indifference remains unresolved.
As a researcher based in Bangalore, Mishika Chauhan evaluates the implications of programs like “campus mothers,” questioning whether they merely serve as cosmetic solutions to deeper issues within India’s higher education systems. With systemic accountability and broader social justice at stake, the efficacy of such initiatives is under scrutiny, compelling stakeholders to confront uncomfortable truths regarding their potential to create meaningful change.
Tags: IIT Kharagpur, campus mothers, student support, mental health, structural crisis
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