The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) has launched a new student welfare initiative titled “HEART” - Help, Empower and Resiliently Thrive: A Mother’s Touch for Campus Wellness. The two-part programme combines AI-driven support tools and a community-based effort involving “campus mothers”, aiming to boost student mental health.

While the initiative has been praised for its empathetic and community-centered approach to student well-being, it has also raised red flags among mental health professionals and educators. Critics have pointed to the gendered framing of care, questioning why only maternal figures are being involved rather than professional counsellors or a more inclusive peer system.

Concerns also extend to the ethics of confidentiality and the risk of moral judgment in sensitive student matters. Professionals worry that students might feel uncomfortable sharing personal struggles with designated “mothers,” potentially undermining trust and safety.

IIT-KGP’s HEART programme reflects an attempt to innovate campus mental health support, but its execution and implications may require further scrutiny and revision.