NITK Surathkal to resume offline counselling for students

The on-campus student counselling facility was available till the Covid-induced lockdown was announced and classes were shifted to the online mode. 

As per a report published in The Times of India, the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal will revive its on-campus student counselling facility, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was taken after a BTech student was found hanging at the institute’s hostel room recently. 

The on-campus student counselling facility was available till the Covid-induced lockdown was announced and classes were shifted to the online mode. 

NITK Director K Umamaheshwar Rao said, “We will encourage students to speak to our counsellors if they are facing any issues.” The institution has one full-time counsellor at the healthcare centre and many additional counsellors from private hospitals keep visiting visiting the institute from time to time. Narendranath S, dean, students’ welfare, said, “We have planned a session for 100 students by an expert counsellor from the region. We will have more counsellors to help students deal with depression, suicidal thoughts or any financial difficulties that are hindering their academic performance.” 

He went on to add that the institute has been helping students financially. “Last year, the faculty helped a Bihar student financially and our alumni spread across the world are always there to help such students,” he said. 

Another faculty member said students hesitate to talk to counsellors due to social stigma. At present, only the third-year and fourth-year students are on the campus. The second and first-year BTech students are yet to return to the campus. 
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