Copyright timesnownews
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released an official notice announcing the launch of the website for the National Task Force. Considering the mental health concerns among students, the NTF was constituted by the Supreme Court. The main purpose is to prevent student suicides in educational institutions. In the latest update, all the medical colleges have been told to go to the official website to participate in the survey. It is to be noted that the website was launched in August and can be accessed at ntf.education.gov.in. The idea of designing the website was to make a central platform to gather views from various groups. These include students of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), their parents, faculty members, mental health professionals, and institutional representatives. NTF also invites inputs from the general public, including friends or family members of students affected by suicide. Even alumni, non-government organizations, media professionals, and other concerned citizens can share their views. How does the NTF portal work?The official notice reads, "The portal hosts structured online survey questionnaires, available in English and Hindi, designed to collect anonymous and confidential inputs on a wide range of themes including Campus environment, inclusivity and belongingness; Sources of distress and systemic discrimination; Existing support systems and grievance redressal mechanisms; and Suggestions for improving students wellbeing." One must know that different categories of surveys are being conducted. Amongst all other surveys, the Institutional Survey is conducted to gather information from higher education institutions. To participate in the same, the higher educational institutions will have to enter the AISHE user credential assigned to them. All medical colleges and institutions under the administrative domain of the NMC are advised to visit the website and take part in the relevant surveys. They should also share the website link and survey details with students and faculty members under their supervision. In another update, the Supreme Court has sought reports from all states and union territories on the progress of implementing guidelines to address mental health issues and student suicides in higher education institutions. The apex court expressed disappointment that nearly 57,000 institutions have not yet taken part in the survey. It gave colleges and universities a final chance to comply, warning of strict action otherwise. A 10-member task force was set up in March. The force is now examining the root causes of student suicide cases.
