SC-appointed panel mulls specific safeguards for students from marginalised communities

New Delhi ( Sarita Tripathi ) :

The Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force (NTF) on student mental health and suicide prevention in higher education institutes (HEIs) is weighing specific safeguards for those from marginalised communities and those with disabilities, along with broader support measures.

The 18-member body, which submitted its interim report to the top court in November 2025 and made it public in June 2026, is currently writing its final report and aims to submit it by October 31, the original deadline.

In the final report, the recommendations will include general measures for student well-being as well as specific safeguards for students hailing from marginalised communities of Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC), minorities and students with disabilities as they are more vulnerable to face discrimination in campuses.

The task force had consulted students and faculty from different backgrounds and communities. We are currently analysing survey responses covering caste, religion, disability and gender and writing the report,” a member of the task force said, requesting anonymity.

The interim report flagged widespread discrimination, weak grievance redressal mechanisms, academic pressure and severe gaps in mental health support across higher education institutions. A substantial section focused on caste-based discrimination, and described as a key lens through which the social dimensions of student suicides in contemporary India have been understood.

The task force wants to move beyond identifying a single trigger for student suicides and examine the combination of circumstances that can lead to prolonged distress, the member quoted above said.