In order to look after student's problems, UGC has asked
universities to set up a student counseling system for addressing the
grievances or challenges faced by students. This decision was taken due to massive
outrage taking place over the suicide by a dalit research scholar in Hyderabad
University.
Jaspal Singh Sandhu (UGC secretary) wrote in his letter to vice-chancellors of all universities that the student counseling system needs to be interactive and target-oriented. This should involve both parents and students and teachers too in order to address problems like anxiety, stress, fear of change and failure to homesickness and other academic worries.
He said that all universities need to place student counseling system mandatorily as safety of students is important whether on or off campus as per UGC guidelines.
According to him, the guidelines were told to universities last year.
The counseling system's main aim is to bridge the gap whether formal or informal between students and institution.
The UGC secretary further added that teachers cum counselors would be trained to act as guide of students catering to their emotional and intellectual needs and guide them to move up in their career at regular interval of time. They need to stay close in touch with the students allotted to them which are a batch of 25 students.
He suggested that student counselors have the liberty to coordinate with wardens of hostels and exchange personal details of students, academic record and behavior patterns for taking corrective action.
Services of a psychologist may be also provided to students in these counseling centers, confirmed the UGC secretary.
The HRD ministry had announced that it would take steps including sensitizing administrations after an outrage broke following the suicide by a dalit student Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University earlier this month.
UGC further asked universities to observe January 30 as Martyrs' Day and celebrate "Matribhasha Diwas" on 21 February every year.