What Is 'Campus Mothers' Programme At IIT Kharagpur? Explained
Women on Campus as Everyday Emotional Anchors
The programme, currently under consideration, seeks to involve women on campus - including faculty members and family members of staff - as everyday emotional anchors for students. These women, referred to as "campus mothers," will be trained to recognise signs of distress and provide informal, empathetic support through casual interactions such as conversations over tea or shared meals.
Creating Trust Outside Formal Counselling Spaces
The goal is to build trust and offer comfort in everyday settings - outside of formal counselling environments - creating a sense of home and community for students living away from their families. IIT Kharagpur officials clarified that this initiative is not meant to replace professional mental health services, but to complement them by adding a layer of emotional presence and human connection.
Student Welcome Committee and Digital Support Tools
The institute has formed a Student Welcome Committee to drive student engagement and support across departments and hostels. The committee is also working on introducing AI-based tools that will allow students to anonymously express emotions, report stress, and access early-stage help. These digital efforts will run alongside offline activities such as theatre, sports, and group discussions to foster emotional openness and peer bonding.
A Shift Towards Everyday Emotional Support
The Campus Mothers programme reflects a major shift in how educational institutions address student mental health - moving from crisis-based interventions to creating consistent, supportive touchpoints in daily campus life.
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New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
How IIT Kharagpur's mental health inititative enforces stereotypes
In a commendable acknowledgement of mental health issues affecting its student population — after at least three suicides were reported so far this year — IIT Kharagpur recently announced that it will be introducing programmes that offer support for students in distress. However, the first initiative that was widely publicised, 'Campus Mothers', has rightfully been criticised for its patriarchal underpinning. The institution has since clarified that 'Campus Mothers' is only a part of a five-pronged approach to inculcating greater mental health among students, and is not to be treated as a stand-alone effort. The idea behind 'Campus Mothers' is that trained volunteers who reside on campus, who may be faculty or non-faculty — and who necessarily must be women and mothers — will provide mentorship for students in the form of conversations and shared meals, with initial contact being made via an AI platform. Speaking on the venture, IIT Kharagpur's new director Suman Chakraborty told the press, 'Having gone through motherhood, they understand the unique challenges children face'. This sentiment is patently untrue: women who are mothers are not capable of greater empathy than others; motherhood in itself does not impart any particular virtues; young adults attending college should not be infantilised; and the emotional labour that is being requested from these volunteers is highly gendered and merely replicates the cultural burden placed on women to nurture — as though to do so is our intrinsic gift. Moreover, the request itself is also unethical. Unsurprisingly, there has also been criticism from mental health professionals who question why paid, professional care has been eschewed in this framework. The institution however clarified that the 'Campus Mothers' programme will not replace such care, only supplement it.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
AI tool, ‘campus moms' to curb IIT Kharagpur student deaths
Kolkata: The rising number of student deaths on campus has prompted IIT Kharagpur to launch a first-of-its-kind AI-powered emotional health monitoring tool that enables anonymous self check-ins and early alert systems. Besides, the institute will also introduce an initiative titled 'campus mothers', under which wives of faculty members and staffers, along with mental health professionals, will offer the warmth of parental care and affection to holistically address the emotional crisis of students. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The AI tool integrated in an app is part of the institute's holistic wellness and engagement framework — Support, Empathy, Transformation, and Upliftment (SETU), which will roll out from July 25 during the induction programme of a new undergraduate (UG) batch. "The app will be secured so that vulnerable student data is not leaked. The system will allow wardens, faculty advisors, and trained peer mentors to respond in real-time with contextual sensitivity," director Suman Chakraborty said. The tool is being developed by in-house experts and a consultancy tech firm. SETU will also include professional care by psychologists, psychiatrists, and counsellors. It will also focus on peer empowerment, and community bonding to address the well-being of students. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo "It is the students who can be vigilant and alert us whenever they see some complex behavioural change among their hostel mates," added Chakraborty, while explaining the peer-empowered initiative. The institute has witnessed three suicide deaths in six months and nine deaths in the last five years. "With 20,000 students and 15 mental health experts at the counselling centre, it is physically not possible to cater to the needs of the students. Therefore, we need technological intervention along with a human touch so that the quality of life of the students on campus becomes better," the director said. The initiative is being rolled out as a pilot project at IIT Kharagpur and will serve as a national model for the other IITs. TOI earlier reported about Sarth (Support, Acceptance, Resilience, Therapy, and Healing), which focused on upgrading the institute's counselling centre and offering one-on-one therapy and psychiatric consultations while maintaining confidentiality, hostel-level outreach programmes, 24/7 online counselling via Your Dost, among other measures.
NDTV
6 days ago
- NDTV
What Is 'Campus Mothers' Programme At IIT Kharagpur? Explained
In a unique step towards enhancing student well-being, IIT Kharagpur is planning to roll out a new initiative called Campus Mothers - a community-led support system aimed at helping students cope with emotional stress. Women on Campus as Everyday Emotional Anchors The programme, currently under consideration, seeks to involve women on campus - including faculty members and family members of staff - as everyday emotional anchors for students. These women, referred to as "campus mothers," will be trained to recognise signs of distress and provide informal, empathetic support through casual interactions such as conversations over tea or shared meals. Creating Trust Outside Formal Counselling Spaces The goal is to build trust and offer comfort in everyday settings - outside of formal counselling environments - creating a sense of home and community for students living away from their families. IIT Kharagpur officials clarified that this initiative is not meant to replace professional mental health services, but to complement them by adding a layer of emotional presence and human connection. Student Welcome Committee and Digital Support Tools The institute has formed a Student Welcome Committee to drive student engagement and support across departments and hostels. The committee is also working on introducing AI-based tools that will allow students to anonymously express emotions, report stress, and access early-stage help. These digital efforts will run alongside offline activities such as theatre, sports, and group discussions to foster emotional openness and peer bonding. A Shift Towards Everyday Emotional Support The Campus Mothers programme reflects a major shift in how educational institutions address student mental health - moving from crisis-based interventions to creating consistent, supportive touchpoints in daily campus life.
