The management at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore has started replacing ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans at its hostels. Students have also been restricted from entering terraces and narrow balconies. The reason for this move is to prevent student suicides. Four students of the institute allegedly died by suicide in their hostel rooms since March this year — three of them by hanging. This move has been taken to restrict access to these means of self-harm by the students.
Student’s internal poll on the move
The IISc students also had an internal poll conducted. In the survey, it was found that out of 305 participants, 273 (88%) said they didn’t want the ceiling fan in their room replaced with a wall-mounted fan, 14 agreed to the change, and 18 said they didn’t care.
There was a second question too, on whether they thought that the replacement of fans would help curb student suicides. To this, 267 students said no, 19 voted yes, and 19 said they didn’t have an informed opinion on the matter.
Mail to the student’s council
On the basis of this poll, the students have written a mail to the chairman of the IISc student’s council. According to the letter, students “see no worth in its [replacing ceiling fans with wall mounted fans] value proposition.”
The wellness center at the institute
The institute during the pandemic had also created a wellness center for the students to address their mental health issues.
The website of the center states that it has been set up for the “promotion of psychological well-being of the IISc community.”
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