Lok Sabha Question No. 2698 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Students Counselling System
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, SUSHMITA DEV, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL, RAMESH BIDHURI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2698 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.3.2016

## Students Counselling System

2698.   SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

PROF. RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  noticed  the  recent  cases  of  suicide  by  students  studying  in universities in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof University-wise;

(c) whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to all central universities to put in place a Students Counselling System for redressal of problems and challenges faced by them;

- (d) if so, the details thereof and the response therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for safety of students on and off campuses?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (b): Yes, Madam. Recently, one Ph.D Scholar in University of Hyderabad and another in Central University of Rajasthan have committed suicide. Data regarding State Universities is not maintained centrally.

(c) to (e): University Grants Commission (UGC)  has formulated the Guidelines on safety of  students  on  and  off  campuses  of  Higher  Education  Institutions  and  communicated  to  all Universities in April, 2015. The Guidelines are also uploaded on UGC website. The same were again reiterated and communicated to all Central Universities on 27 th January, 2016. One of the important components of the guidelines is that all the Higher Educational Institutional should put in place a broad-based Student Counselling System for the effective redressal of problems and  challenges  faced  by  students.  Besides  this,  it  was  also  requested  to  all  the  Central Universities to create Student Counselling Centres in Universities and the Colleges where the services of a trained Psychologist may be used as and when required.

UGC  has also issued regulations/guidelines with regard to checking harassment and discrimination  of  all  categories  of  students,  promotion  of  equity,  strengthening  of  grievance redressal system, elimination of ragging etc. in HEIs.

Education is a concurrent subject and the majority of Universities come under the purview of State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. Moreover, Central Universities are autonomous bodies which are governed by their own Acts, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations made thereunder and they enjoy autonomy in all administrative and academic matters. They are competent to take decisions including to ensure safety of students on and off campuses.

A meeting with Vice Chancellors of the Central Universities was convened on 18 th February, 2016  and  the  issues  related  to  grievance  redressal  system,  need  of  counseling  of  youth  and sensitization of University administrators towards handling the issues faced by students etc. were discussed.  The Vice Chancellors have, inter-alia, agreed to ensure a healthy, safe and congenial work environment for students, women, staff and faculty.

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