President Murmu expresses concern over student suicides and dropouts

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday expressed deep concern over the suicide of a 20-year-old student at IIT Delhi last week and similar cases of suicides across institutes besides high student dropout cases at IITs and IIMs, especially from reserved category students.

In her inaugural address at the Visitor's Awards in New Delhi, Murmu exhorted all educational institutes to ensure a stress-free and facilitating environment for all students and ensure a 'learner-centric' ecosystem, as also underlined in the National Education Policy 2020.

She reminded that several higher educational institutes have earned global prestige due to their talented students and it is essential that the student is kept at the centre of all development and activities at the institute.


The President drew attention to the 2019 central government report that showed within two years 2,500 students dropped out of IITs and 100 from IIMs and 50% of these came from reserved category, as per a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

She pointed to the need to sympathise with and understand the challenges faced by first generation students, the need to mentor and guide them with sensitivity and ensure their equitable place on campus.

A 'family like' environment has to be created in the institute to hand hold all such students, President Murmu said.