No plan to install ‘special fans’ to prevent suicides: IIT-M
Amid reports that ‘special fans’ were going to be installed to prevent student suicides in hostel rooms, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras denied it, adding that the main priority was to strengthen the mental health of the students on the campus.
By : migrator
Update: 2019-11-23 21:08 GMT
Chennai
Fathima Lathief, afirst-year student of MA Development Studies (Integrated), committed suicide in her room at‘Sarayu’ hostel inside the IIT-M campus on November 9, triggering a row. There were widespread protests by students, even as the management assured that it would fully co-operate with the police.
The latest controversy is over an “unofficial” e-mail from the administration that reportedly recommended ‘fan bush protection’ in hostel rooms to prevent suicides.
Dismissing it, a senior staff from IIT Madras said on condition of anonymity that there were no plans to install it as being rumoured. The mail was only a suggestion from few staff in the institution as such a fan was available in the campus.
“We are using thatfan, which was developedby a student, who suggested that his invention would prevent suicide,” the source added.
“The institution will not act in haste. This is a very sensitive issue,” the person said, adding that management has decided to strengthen the students health by organising various activities in the campus.
Meanwhile, a member of Ambedkar-Periyar Circle in the IIT Madras campus said it would stage protests if the administration took sucha step.
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