The IIT Guwahati administration on Wednesday held a meeting on how to “improve” student-teacher ties in the wake of the protests held following the death of a third-year B. Tech Computer Science student on Sunday night.
It was the second death by hanging at the premier institute this year.
A IITG source told The Telegraph that the director had convened a meeting of administration staff to brief the latter about the developments following the tragedy and how things could be improved, one of which included “bridging the gap between the student and the faculty”.
“It was a fruitful hour-long discussion in the afternoon. The authorities will take steps to further improve the academic environment and mental well-being of the students. The overall sentiment was that the student protest on Monday and Tuesday overshadowed the tragedy which should not have been the case,” the sources said.
The staff meeting follows the one the director held with the protesting students on Tuesday, lasting from 4.30pm to 10pm, where the students submitted an eight-point charter of demands.
The demands included revisiting the “attendance policy as well as professor sensitisation”.
The stringent attendance policy, a student said, was a cause of mental distress as well as the “behaviour” of some faculty members towards students.
The IITG did not allow entry to journalists on Wednesday following reports that the institute’s Dean (academic affairs) K.V. Krishna resigned following the protest, the development indicating the impact of the student protest. The resignation has not been accepted yet.
The institute said: “Members of the media are requested not to visit the campus now. The institute assures you that the situation is being treated with utmost urgency and media will soon be invited to the campus for a meeting with the director. We request members of the press to understand and co-operate with us in these difficult times and give us a few days to bring the situation back to normalcy and invite you to campus for a briefing.”
Before Wednesday’s meeting, the IITG also said: “IIT Guwahati acknowledges the deep distress caused by the recent unfortunate incident of a student death on campus and understands the concerns of the student community. The well-being of everyone remains our top priority, and we are fully committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all.”
“While understanding and acknowledging the concerns of the students, it is crucial to prioritise academic continuity and maintain a peaceful campus. Therefore, we request all to refrain from protests and return to their classrooms,” another statement said.