New Delhi: Education Ministry Takes Action at NIT Kurukshetra
The Education Ministry has stepped in to improve the situation at NIT Kurukshetra after a recent review. This comes on the heels of the resignation of director B.V. Ramana Reddy and the appointment of senior professor Brahmjit Singh as the acting director.
These changes were prompted by the troubling occurrence of four student suicides on campus in the last two months, with three happening in April alone. The tragic death of a 20-year-old second-year student on April 16 sparked protests, as fellow students expressed concerns about negligence and called for an investigation. In response to the unrest, the administration suspended academic activities and instructed students to leave their hostels, although some have been allowed back from May 9.
The review meeting, led by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, focused on campus life, academic conditions, and hostel management. It identified the need for urgent measures to foster student engagement, ensure faculty accountability, and improve the overall atmosphere at the institute. Immediate actions include upgrading hostels, providing structured training for faculty on mentoring and student well-being, and establishing standard procedures to enhance student participation.
Additionally, a joint registrar, Gyana Ranjan Samantaray, has been suspended following a visit from a central team to the campus. Meanwhile, the Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken notice of the situation and is requesting reports from both the institute and local authorities.
The leadership change stems from the Education Ministry’s decision to revoke Reddy’s administrative and financial powers, aiming to bring about a positive transformation in the institution.
