VARANASI : In another important step aimed at overall growth and well-being of its students, Banaras Hindu University has launched “Student Well-Being Initiative” for its students studying at the Institute of Science. The initiative will support the students in their pursuit of academic development as well as psychological, emotional, physical and mental well-being. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sudhir Kumar Jain has formed a ten-member committee chaired by Prof. Satyen Saha, Department of Chemistry, to carry out activities under the initiative. The committee will help students navigate life challenges, resolve psychological concerns and develop a life-long orientation toward resilience and mental wellness through formal and informal means. It will develop strategies and implement activities to enhance physical and mental health, and overall well-being for students who are in need of any kind of help or assistance. The committee is also mandated with liaising with external and internal resource persons, facilitators or mentors for conducting workshops, talks, activities and events on various aspects of wellbeing. The members of the committee will make themselves available to the students when need arises and help them access various services available at the university level. The initiative has been launched for a period of one year initially. Dr. Prashant Singh, Department of Botany, Dr. Shruti Trivedi, Dept. of Chemistry, Dr. Shikha Singh, Dept. of Geography, Dr. Gulab Chand Gautam, Dept. of Geology, Dr. Jayeeta Lahari, Dept. of Physics, Dr. Mahaveer Panwar, Dept. of Statistics, Dr. Vivek Laha, Dept. of Mathematics, Dr. Amaresh Kumar Singh, Dept. of Zoology, and Dr. Ankita Vaish, Dept. of Computer Science, are the members of the committee.

The Vice-Chancellor has also appointed an Advisory Council to monitor and track activities of the Life Skills and Well-Being Initiative. The advisory council chaired by Prof. Madoolika Agrawal, Dept. of Botany, has Prof. S M Singh, School of Biotechnology, Prof. Abhay Kr. Singh, Dept. of Physics, Prof. Rajeev Bhatla, Dept. of Geophysics, and Prof. Madhu Gwaldas Tapadia, Dept. of Zoology, as members of the advisory council.