New Delhi: With Bengaluru's Indian Institute of Science (IISc) removing ceiling fans from hostel rooms in a step aimed at preventing suicides on campus, the students have expressed their displeasure with the management’s decision.
The IISc students conducted a survey on the management’s decision to remove ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans from the hostel rooms to put forth their stand.
As per the results of the poll submitted to the IISc Student’s Council, 273 of the 305 participants said that they did not want the ceiling fan in their room replaced with wall-mounted fan.
Another 14 participants agreed to the change brought by the management, while 18 participants remained neutral stating they didn’t care.
“Taking this poll as a sample indicator of the entire student population of the IISc, it is clear that currently, the student community does not wish to proceed with this installation. They see no worth in its value proposition,” stated the letter sent by the students to the chairman of the IISc Student’s Council, Hindustan Times reported.
A member of the Student’s Council said that they would take up this issue with the management.
There is, however, no official reaction from the IISc management with regard to the survey conducted by the students.
Bharathi Singh, Youth Counselor, CEO at Samudra Foundation, expressed her disapproval stating the “alleged decision is an impulsive reaction” on part of the IISc management.
“The Institute should work on a grassroot or core reason on why students are committing suicide. The management through counsellors should address the anxiety issue, fear of failure or academic pressure including the personal issues since the students are staying away from home,” she said, The Indian Express reported.
The IISc management’s decision comes as there have reportedly been six cases of suicide on the campus in the last two years.