In a crucial step to address mental health issues and prevent suicides among college students, the Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force (NTF) convened its second meeting on April 12. The primary focus was on building a dedicated online platform for collecting data from educational institutions across the country.
The meeting was chaired by Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, retired Supreme Court judge, and included mental health experts, disability advocates, and academic leaders. The discussions revolved around the evaluation of current rules, dissemination of structured surveys, and inter-departmental cooperation with bodies such as the Ministry of Health and the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL).
Three specialised sub-groups were also established to tackle distinct objectives: revisiting previous reports, assessing the effectiveness of existing mental health provisions, and designing feedback tools for students and institutions.
This initiative follows a landmark verdict on March 24, where the Supreme Court recognised the alarming rise in suicides among students and criticised the failure of existing systems. The judges stressed the urgency for a comprehensive, empathetic, and effective approach to student well-being, particularly in private and higher education institutions.
The NTF also includes prominent names like Dr Alok Sarin, Prof. Seema Mehrotra (NIMHANS), and Arman Ali, among others. Their collective mission: to recommend meaningful reforms and ensure campuses become safe and supportive environments.
The first meeting, held virtually on March 29, laid the groundwork for stakeholder involvement, public outreach, and focused questionnaire campaigns.