Overview

• Arun Chakraborty formally assumed the role of dean of student well-being on August 5, the first dedicated mental health leadership position among the IITs.
• He has told students he is available 24/7 and is conducting personalized induction sessions to encourage early intervention and open dialogue.
• These efforts are integrated within the broader SETU framework, which includes an AI-powered mental wellness platform, revamped counseling services, campus mentors, student task forces, and stress management workshops.
• The dean of student well-being role is structurally separate from the dean of student affairs to distinguish mental health oversight from administrative responsibilities.
• The appointment and ongoing initiatives respond to four student suicides in seven months, underlining IIT Kharagpur’s shift toward proactive welfare measures.