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NDTV
5 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
After Odisha Student's Self-Immolation, The Pretence Of 'Action'
The tragic self-immolation and death of a student at FM College in Odisha, following alleged abuse by a faculty member, has sent shockwaves across the state. The student, who died by suicide after multiple pleas to authorities and a sham hearing by the Internal Complaints Committee, has starkly exposed the inadequate, or mostly absent, student support systems in higher education institutions. In response, the Odisha government has launched the "Shaktishree" initiative, aimed at "transforming women's safety in higher education institutions." However, such knee-jerk solutions, which aim at the optics of action rather than meaningful change, must be replaced by robust and comprehensive student support frameworks. Is "Shaktishree" Enough? Under the Shaktishree initiative, Empowerment Cells are to be established in nearly 730 colleges under 16 state universities. Each cell is expected to include a trained female student and a woman faculty member. Other features include a mobile app for accessing services, round-the-clock CCTV surveillance, self-defence training, and the appointment of five accomplished women in each district to mentor female students. The programme bears resemblance to IIT Kharagpur's "Campus Mothers" scheme. Both sound promising, but in their gendered stereotyping, they dilute the focus from the need to create a professional mental health infrastructure. The College Campus Mental health concerns among college students are rising rapidly. According to the World Mental Health Survey conducted across 21 countries in 2016, one in five college students met the criteria for a psychiatric disorder. Indian studies show comparable numbers. Severe mental illnesses often begin during late adolescence and early adulthood, the characteristic neurodevelopment phase, which is the precise age group that populates our college campuses. In Odisha, student suicides (across schools and colleges) rose by more than 50% between 2021 and 2023, with 189 cases reported in 2023 alone. Fortunately, mental health interventions in higher education have shown encouraging outcomes in college students. Evidence-based programmes, such as mindfulness training, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and technology-driven interventions, have been effective in reducing mental health difficulties among college students. Yet, despite guidelines issued by the UGC and AICTE in 2023, most colleges in Odisha still do not have a single professional counsellor on their rolls. The Shaktishree initiative does include a telehealth feature that connects students to Tele-MANAS, a national mental health helpline by NIMHANS. As of May 2024, Tele-MANAS had handled over one million calls, averaging 3,500 per day, through 51 cells across India. Odisha alone accounted for about 20,000 calls between 2021 and 2023, predominantly from young callers. While promising, helplines cannot replace embedded, on-campus mental health support. The crisis extends to private institutions as well. Just last week, a leading private university in Bhubaneswar, KIIT, was publicly reprimanded by the UGC after the suicide of a foreign student. The regulatory body issued a show-cause notice, raising serious concerns about the university's mental health support systems, safety protocols, and its administrative handling, accusing it of "illegal compromise in harassment complaints". A Model Worth Emulating Kerala, a state with high indices in healthcare, provides another example to emulate in this domain. "JEEVANI", a structured, state-wide, comprehensive college mental health programme for students in all government arts and science colleges of the state, has been successfully implemented. It is also the largest structured college mental health service in India. Each JEEVANI unit includes a full-time counsellor and offers evidence-based, clinically supervised interventions and referrals. The system is continuously improved through regular administrative feedback and is a model that other states, including Odisha, would do well to replicate. At the national level, the seriousness of the issue has reached the Supreme Court. In 2025, it constituted a National Task Force on the Mental Health Concerns of Students and the Prevention of Suicides in Higher Educational Institutions. The task force held its second meeting in April this year and is currently focusing on areas including identifying prominent causes leading to student suicides, analysing the effectiveness of existing student welfare and mental health policies, and eventually proposing reforms to strengthen institutional frameworks and create a supportive academic environment. While the task force might do a good job in meeting the objectives, its translation to action is a different story. Shaky Foundations Even the most well-intentioned support systems will fail if deeper structural issues remain unaddressed. As of early 2025, 65% of permanent teaching posts (1,307 positions) and 71% of non-teaching posts in Odisha's public universities remain vacant. Two of the largest universities in the state have failed to appoint student grievance ombudsmen despite multiple UGC directives. Discrimination based on gender, caste, or other marginalised identities continues to plague campuses, significantly impacting students' mental well-being. These issues are not unique to Odisha and are a well-documented national malaise afflicting higher education. Still, Odisha must take urgent, state-level action rather than wait for national reforms to trickle down. While the "Shaktishree" scheme may appear to be a step in the right direction, its limited scope and emphasis on safety over holistic support fall short of what is truly needed. The absence of a professionally structured, integrated, and evidence-informed student support ecosystem is a glaring gap. Until Odisha develops a comprehensive, well-funded, and expertly staffed plan for student well-being, the youth in its colleges will remain vulnerable not just to academic pressures, but to the compounded effects of neglect, abuse, and institutional apathy.
Hans India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
BJD holds silent protest, seeks justice for student
Bhubaneswar: TheOpposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday staged a silent protest at Janata Maidan under the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Bhubaneswar, demanding justice for the girl student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, who died after self-immolation over alleged sexual harassment by one of faculty members and college authorities' apathy. Hundreds of BJD workers, leaders and women activists gathered in silent protest, with black cloths tied around their mouths, holding placards and raising slogans seeking accountability and action against those responsible for the tragic incident at FM College. The party reiterated its demand for a judicial probe into the tragic death of the victim girl student of FM College and the resignation of the State Higher Education Minister for failing to help the victim. The party accused the BJP-led Union government and its representatives in the State of politicising the issue and diverting attention from the core injustice faced by the the gathering, BJD leaders said, 'We are here under the statue of Mahatma Gandhi to protest peacefully. Gandhiji taught us the power of non-violent resistance.' The protesters alleged that the BJP and its MPs have attempted to distort the narrative, misguiding the public while ignoring the emotional and social trauma that led the young girl to take the extreme step. 'This is not just about one college or one girl; it's about the systemic failure. Justice delayed is justice denied,' they added. The BJD also strongly condemned the police action during earlier protests, claiming that rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas shells were used against peaceful protesters. 'If our daughters had been in that crowd, what would have happened to them? Such brutality is unacceptable,' a leader said. The party demanded strict action against those responsible for the girl's death and the officials involved in the alleged police excesses. 'We will continue our democratic fight until justice is served,' the leaders said.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Time of India
Colleges conduct sensitisation programmes
Berhampur: Almost all colleges in Ganjam district have conducted sensitisation meetings on sexual harassment of women at workplace Act-2013 and displayed the names of the internal complaints committee (ICC) in the last two days following a govt directive. On Monday, the higher education department asked vice-chancellors and college principals to submit the names of ICC members, display their names and phone numbers at strategic locations in the college and conduct workshops on the Act for sensitisation of students and faculty members. The govt directive came following the self-immolation of a 20-year-old girl student of FM College, Balasore, due to alleged sexual harassment by a college teacher. "Principals of all 49 govt and govt-aided colleges in Ganjam district have submitted their undertakings on the formation of ICC, displayed names of members and their phone numbers and conducted sensitisation meetings in their colleges in last two days," said Sidharth Shankar Padhy, regional education director, Berhampur, on Thursday. He said principals have been asked to conduct such sensitisation programmes in the colleges from time to time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo V ice-chancellor Berhampur University Geetanjali Dash said names of ICC members and anti-ragging cell have been displayed at strategic locations, including all departments and hostels. "I have asked the ICC to sensitise students department wise. After completion of the admission, they would conduct an orientation programme, to sensitise the students about sexual harassment and against ragging," she said. Anuva Choudhury, assistant professor, industrial relations and personnel management (IR&PM), who was appointed as presiding officer of the university's ICC said they would start the sensitisation programme from Friday for two days in the first phase. They would conduct similar meetings in hostels, she said.
New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha bandh brings state to a halt as Congress protests over Balasore student death
BHUBANESWAR: Even as the 12-hour bandh called by opposition Congress and Left parties, seeking justice for the the FM College incident in Balasore, where a student died by self-immolation, allegedly due to sexual harassment by her department HOD, paralysed public transport, brought normal life to a standstill across the state, protestors staging dharna near Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's residence were rounded up by police in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday afternoon. The bandh remained by and large peaceful till this report was filed but essential services were hit partially as vehicular movement on major roads and highways were disrupted by the agitating Congress workers. The dawn-to-dusk strike also affected train services over a dozen of railway stations as Congress workers resorted to 'rail roko' on the day. The agitators detained Chennai-bound Coromandel Express for more than an hour at Bhadrak railway station at around 6 am, while departure of Utkal Express from Puri railway station was also delayed by at least 30 minutes due to dharna at the railway station. 'Timings of at least 10 trains were affected due to the bandh. However, the services have become normal now,' said an officer from the East Coast Railway (ECoR). Tension flared up briefly at Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar after agitating Congress workers tried to forcefully entre into the railway station. However, they were blocked by the police and security personnel following a minor scuffle. Long queues of commercial vehicles were witnessed in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Jajpur stretch of National Highway NH -16. Hundreds of trucks also remained stranded on Koraput-Jeypore stretch of NH 26 owing to the bandh.
New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Congress's Odisha Bandh today; government tightens security
BHUBANESWAR: Normal life is likely to be hit hard due to the Odisha Bandh call given by Congress and Left parties over the FM College incident on Thursday. With the Opposition activists preparing to enforce a complete shutdown across the state barring some emergency services like hospitals and medical services, markets and business establishments are likely to be affected. Vehicular movement and public transport is also likely to be disrupted due to the road blockades, dharnas, and demonstrations planned by the Congress and other parties. President of All Odisha Private Bus Association Loknath Pani said buses will stop if obstructed by the agitators. General secretary of All-India Petroleum Dealers' Association, Sanjay Lath, informed that over 3,000 fuel stations and three major depots in Odisha will remain closed from 6 am to 4 pm on July 17. 'The decision was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of staff, property and customers during the protest,' he said. Though the state government has not made any announcement regarding the closure of offices as well as schools, colleges and educational institutions, they will also be affected.
