Team Goemkarponn
Margao: The 3rd District Level Monitoring Committee (DLMC) meeting was held in South Goa under the chairpersonship of Collector and District Magistrate Ms Egna Cleetus, with a strong focus on student mental health, safety, and institutional accountability at higher education campuses.
The meeting was attended by Superintendent of Police (South Goa) Shri Tikam Singh Verma, Director of Higher Education Shri Bhushan Sawaikar, and Dean of BITS Pilani, Goa Campus Shri Suman Kundu, along with officials from the Departments of Technical Education, Social Welfare, Health Services, Tribal Welfare, and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Vasco.
Addressing the committee, the Dean of BITS Pilani detailed a range of initiatives undertaken to safeguard student welfare, particularly in addressing stress, anxiety and depression-related concerns. He informed that professional support systems have been strengthened through the engagement of counsellors, psychologists and a psychiatrist, complemented by 24×7 medical services and dedicated helplines.
The committee was informed that the Goa campus has adopted a comprehensive institutional framework integrating mental health care, academic reforms, and campus life improvements. Key programmes include ‘Mitr’, a faculty-led hostel outreach initiative encouraging open dialogue, and ‘Sethu’, a structured mentorship system linking every student with a faculty mentor. Peer-led support mechanisms such as Mental Health Buddies (in collaboration with Rahat Trust), TAG, an anonymous student support group, and a Peer Mentorship Programme for freshers have also been implemented.
The Dean further stated that early identification and intervention are being ensured through Myndwell assessments, while faculty members and wardens have undergone Mental Health First Aid and Gatekeeper training to better respond to students in distress.
On the academic front, reforms such as liberal evaluation practices, spaced examinations, curriculum restructuring, and the introduction of BITS K101 – Physical Well-being and Creativity were highlighted as measures to reduce academic pressure. Innovation-driven initiatives including Challengathon and a 24×7 Innovation Lab were also outlined.
Enhancements to campus life, including expanded sports facilities, open gyms, shuttle services, upgraded hostels, extended library hours, and strengthened campus security through comprehensive CCTV coverage, X-ray screening, and a zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct, were placed on record.
Officials at the meeting underscored the importance of continuous monitoring, inter-departmental coordination, and institutional transparency to ensure student safety and well-being across educational institutions in the district.
