Mental stress and academic pressure: Eight IIT Delhi students die by suicide in three years
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Delhi: Protests have intensified at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi following the death of another student by suicide, with students demanding the immediate resignation of the Dean and Associate Deans of the Office of Student Affairs and the head of the Physics Department.
Eight students have died by suicide at the institute over the past three years. Students have alleged that mental stress caused by faculty members and an unbearable academic workload are pushing students towards taking extreme steps.
The latest death was that of Rishikesh Kumar, a second-year MSc Physics student. He died by suicide on August 21 after jumping from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex on the campus. Relatives have alleged that Rishikesh, who was suffering from severe mental stress and depression, had faced neglect from faculty members.
Similar allegations have been raised following the deaths of Anil Kumar, a final-year BTech student, 20-year-old Ayush Ashna, Pranav Jain, Varad Sanjay, Kumar Yash, Ayush Singhal and Harshit Swami.
A committee formed to investigate the reasons behind the repeated student suicides at the institute had also made alarming findings. Its report, submitted in August last year, identified several factors, including the grading system, academic pressure, and caste- and gender-based discrimination.
However, the institute has not taken further action on the findings of the report, students have alleged.
Students have now decided to intensify their protests. They are demanding that IIT Delhi make public its mental health protocol for students who approach the campus counselling services.
They have also called for clarity on the role of the Office of Student Affairs in removing students experiencing mental health difficulties from the campus.