logo
IIT Kharagpur creates new dean position to focus on students' mental well-being

IIT Kharagpur creates new dean position to focus on students' mental well-being

India Todaya day ago
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, IIT Kharagpur has appointed a dedicated dean to oversee students' mental health and overall well-being. The move comes in the wake of four suspected student suicides in campus hostels since January.Arun Chakraborty, a professor at the Centre for Ocean, River, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, assumed charge as the Dean of Students' Well-being on August 5. According to IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty, the role has been created exclusively to support students emotionally, help them navigate challenges, and encourage their holistic growth.advertisementUnlike the Dean of Student Affairs,who primarily handles academic and administrative matters the new dean will focus entirely on mental health concerns. 'He will not just be a figure in an office; he will engage with students directly, both in groups and individually, acting as a friend, teacher, and mentor,' the director said.
Professor Chakraborty is already familiar with student concerns through his involvement in BTech induction programmes. The director emphasised that the position is likely the first of its kind in Indian institutes, reflecting a growing awareness of the need to actively address emotional well-being alongside academics.Responding to questions about whether the creation of the post was linked to the recent deaths, the director said the institute's priority is to ensure that no student feels overwhelmed by pressure. He noted that while academic and extracurricular programmes continue with the same vigour, socio-economic changes may have affected students' mental states. The administration, he added, has also been engaging with parents regularly to ensure students feel supported, even during vacations.IIT Kharagpur currently houses around 16,000 students across 21 hostels. The most recent incident occurred on July 18, when fourth-year mechanical engineering student Ritam Mondal was found dead in his hostel room. Three other hostel residents have died in similar circumstances since the start of the year.- Ends
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why multiple sclerosis remains under-diagnosed in India, and what needs to change
Why multiple sclerosis remains under-diagnosed in India, and what needs to change

The Hindu

timea minute ago

  • The Hindu

Why multiple sclerosis remains under-diagnosed in India, and what needs to change

Multiple Sclerosis, by its core definition, is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. This disease leads the immune system to mistakenly attack the myelin sheath, the fatty layer responsible for giving the brain's white matter its distinctive colour, disrupting the transmission of signals across motor, sensory, visual, cognitive, and autonomic systems. This leads to commonly-experienced symptoms such as unexplained weaknesses, tingling sensations, sensitivity to heat and numbness in the feet- and due to easy dismissal arising from the commonality of these symptoms, many individuals with multiple sclerosis remain undiagnosed, further worsening the brain and body's condition. These unchecked symptoms could lead to them experiencing a relapse - a sudden onset of these symptoms, the intensity of which differs from case to case. The burden of under-diagnosis The issue is lack of awareness around this rare disease: as estimated by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI), the approximate number of persons with MS in India is close to 1.8 lakh. However, only about 35% of these cases are diagnosed and registered through organisations such as MSSI. Therefore, a whopping 65% of this number may be living with undiagnosed multiple sclerosis, suggesting that they suffer silently, without proper support, and are uninformed about the root cause behind their symptoms. Studies indicate that both physical and mental aspects of health are deeply affected, causing depression, physical disability and fatigue, leading to an overall drop in quality of life. The heat factor According to a 2024 survey, 80% of Indians between ages 18 to 50 experience at least one symptom of stress on a regular basis, with women being disproportionately affected. This, coupled with India being geographically positioned in a high temperature zone, and the fact that women are more susceptible to MS suggests that Indian women between the ages 18 to 50 may have the highest chances of suffering from undiagnosed multiple sclerosis. MS also afflicts males, and they too may suffer relapses worsened by the same triggers, though generally at a lower prevalence and with varied presentation across age groups and heat exposure. Adding to this, men with MS may experience more severe neurodegeneration and cognitive symptoms - although the root cause remains unclear. Men are shown to have higher chances of being diagnosed with primary progressive MS (PPMS). This type of MS is characterised by a lack of remissions and symptoms that don't improve. Most Indians therefore, undergo MS relapses triggered not just by stress, but also by infections, and prolonged heat. Dismissal of symptoms due to their commonality in nature is not the only factor behind the high ratio between diagnosed and undiagnosed populations affected by MS; lack of awareness among the public and healthcare providers, uneven access to specialist neurologists and MRI diagnostics, and limited data systems for tracking the disease nationwide all contribute to the problem. A scalable solution To bridge this gap, especially in rural settings, one scalable solution is through using the National Health Mission's Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) worker network. Nearly one million ASHAs already engage with rural communities, track symptoms, and help people seek care. Training ASHAs to spot red-flag neurological signs, such as persistent numbness, tingling, and unexplained fatigue that worsens in heat, can greatly reduce missed diagnoses. At the same time, improving primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) under initiatives such as the Aardram Mission in Kerala to include basic neurological screening tools and MRI referral pathways can boost early detection in underserved areas. Supported by targeted education for physicians, including accessible continuing medical education (CME) programmes for general practitioners on recognizing MS, triggers, and referral protocols, we can build a grassroots awareness model that does not rely on metro-based outreach and fits with India's public health system. Need for more awareness The key in bridging the gap between diagnosed patients and silent sufferers of MS in India lies in awareness. With multiple sclerosis still being considered a rare disease, there are no proven studies that determine its root cause or cure. However, better management of symptoms through early diagnosis may lead to a better quality of life, also minimising the overall damage caused to the myelin sheath. It is advisable to check with your neurologist and get screenings done to confirm your diagnosis, if you suspect you may have this autoimmune disease. (Dr (Col) J. D. Mukherji is vice chairman and head, department of neurology, institute of neurosciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi.

Yatharth hits new high, zooms 52% in 3 months; what's driving the rally?
Yatharth hits new high, zooms 52% in 3 months; what's driving the rally?

Business Standard

timean hour ago

  • Business Standard

Yatharth hits new high, zooms 52% in 3 months; what's driving the rally?

Yatharth Hospital & Trauma Care Services share price today: Shares of Yatharth Hospital & Trauma Care Services (Yatharth Hospitals) hit a new high of ₹738, as they rallied nearly 5 per cent on the BSE in Monday's intra-day trade. In the past two weeks, the stock price of one of the leading private super speciality hospitals in North India has surged 20 per cent. In the past three months, it zoomed 52 per cent. In the past six months, the stock rallied nearly 80 per cent, as compared to 5 per cent rise in the BSE Sensex. What's the trigger behind the rally in Yatharth Hospitals? Yatharth Hospitals is set to be included as a constituent of the MSCI India Small Cap Index, effective from the upcoming index rebalancing date of August 26, 2025. The MSCI India Small Cap Index is designed to measure the performance of the small cap segment of the Indian equity market. The MSCI indices are widely tracked by international institutional investors, and this addition is set to enhance the Yatharth Hospital's visibility amongst global investors, the company said in a press release. Over the past four years, Yatharth Hospitals has delivered a robust revenue compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40 per cent and a profit after tax (PAT) CAGR of 61 per cent. This remarkable growth underscores the increasing influence of the Yatharth brand and its position as a leading healthcare provider in North India. The company's success is attributed to significant investments in state-of-the-art medical technologies, focus on clinical excellence and the dedication of its medical practitioners and staff, it said. Yatharth Hospitals is on course to surpass its target of 3,000 beds by FY28, driven by a strategic capacity expansion focused on strengthening its footprint in the highgrowth Delhi-NCR region. The new hospitals in Faridabad and New Delhi will offer super-specialty services from day one, ensuring higher average revenue per occupied bed (ARPOB) and enabling a faster ramp-up. With Ebitda breakeven anticipated within 12–15 months of commissioning, this expansion is expected to propel robust volume growth and enhance operating leverage, according to analysts at Choice Equity Broking. 'We expect growth to be driven by higher ARPOB, improved occupancy levels (aiming for 70 per cent across existing facilities), strategic acquisitions, and a sustained revenue growth trajectory of +30 per cent. Additionally, an increasing share of super-specialty services is anticipated to enhance their contribution to Yatharth's overall revenues,' the brokerage firm said with a 'buy' rating on stock and target price of ₹800 per share. In the coming years, healthcare delivery in India is expected to be primarily shaped by technological advancements and the growing adoption of digital health solutions by both providers and patients. This transformation will be fueled by shifts in mindset, advancements in technology, infrastructure development, government initiatives, and more. Key government programmes, such as the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and e-Sanjeevani, are laying the groundwork for a digitised healthcare ecosystem. At the same time, private sector players are exploring digital technologies like robotics, telehealth, AI, and 5G to offer technology-driven care to their patients. Overall, the Indian healthcare industry has maintained robust growth momentum and is poised for continued expansion, fuelled by strong government support, rising private sector investments, technological advancements, and a steadfast commitment to enhancing healthcare access and affordability for all segments of the population, Fortis Healthcare said in FY25 annual report. About Yatharth Hospital & Trauma Care Services Yatharth Hospitals is one of North India's leading healthcare providers. With seven super speciality hospitals located in North India, i.e., at Noida, Greater Noida, Noida Extension, Greater Faridabad, newly operationalised Model Town facility, and soon to be operationalised Faridabad facility in Delhi NCR, and Jhansi-Orchha in Madhya Pradesh, it has a total capacity of more than 2,300 beds.

Think steamed momos are healthy? Think again, warns nutritionist. How many hours of walking are needed to burn a plate of momos?
Think steamed momos are healthy? Think again, warns nutritionist. How many hours of walking are needed to burn a plate of momos?

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Think steamed momos are healthy? Think again, warns nutritionist. How many hours of walking are needed to burn a plate of momos?

Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Samosas – Crispy Delight, Calorie Overload Momos – Steamed But Still Sneaky Biscuits – Small But Deceptive Gulab Jamun—Sweet Indulgence With A Price Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Potato Chips – Calorie Trap In Every Crunch Final Advice – Check Before You Chew If you're eyeing a plate of piping hot samosas or steaming momos for your evening treat, you may want to pause, cautions nutritionist Dr. Shikha Singh. In a recent Instagram post, she reminded followers that our beloved snacks, while delicious, are often loaded with calories. They vanish from our plates in moments, but the calories they leave behind demand hours of physical effort to burn Singh explains that a single samosa contains roughly 200 calories. Burning off that indulgence isn't quick—it would take at least an hour of steady walking to undo the damage from just one assume that steamed treats like momos or dim sums are guilt-free. However, Dr. Singh points out that they pack around 250 calories per plate. She notes that burning this off requires about one and a half hours of brisk for a couple of biscuits with your morning tea might seem harmless, but two pieces amount to nearly 200 calories. That means another hour of walking just to break even, warns Dr. syrup-soaked Indian dessert is a nationwide favourite. Yet, Dr. Singh highlights that just two gulab jamuns add up to about 400 calories. Eliminating those from your body would require a full two hours of consistent lovers of spicy, crispy snacks, potato chips are hard to resist. However, Dr. Singh warns that a 100-gram serving contains a staggering 550 calories. You'd need to walk for at least two and a half hours to burn off that much Singh concludes her message with a simple but powerful piece of advice: know the calorie content of every treat—sweet or savoury—before indulging. She reminds us that while it takes only seconds to consume high-calorie foods, the journey to burn them off can stretch into months or even years if overindulgence becomes a habit.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store