Surat University installs 388 anti-suicide fans across 9 campus hostels to safeguard students
New Delhi: Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) in Surat has stepped up on-campus safety by fitting 388 anti-suicide ceiling fans across all nine of its student hostels. The administration took this proactive step as a preventative measure to curb self-harm attempts and keep hostel rooms secure.
The rollout covers five girls’ hostels and four boys’ hostels located on the varsity grounds. In total, 170 of these units have gone into the female residences, while the remaining 218 have been set up across the boys’ living quarters.
Each fan functions just like a normal ceiling fan during daily use, but carries a built-in safety system. If a load exceeding 10 kg pulls on the fixture, an internal spring setup triggers straight away, dropping the assembly downwards and cutting off electric current.
How safety mechanism functions
According to the university authorities, each specialised unit costs upward of Rs 2,500. The primary goal is to ensure the fixture cannot serve as an anchor point under heavy weight. While the university acknowledges that physical changes cannot solve mental health challenges entirely, the equipment provides an immediate physical barrier during crisis moments.
Explaining the rationale behind the rollout, VNSGU Vice-Chancellor Kishorsinh Chavda confirmed that no such tragedy had taken place on their campus, but they wanted to remain cautious after seeing distress cases elsewhere.
“We are installing around 388 anti-suicide ceiling fans across Veer Narmad South Gujarat University. Their main feature is that as soon as weight is applied, the spring mechanism activates, causing the fan to come downwards. The electricity supply is cut off, helping save a precious life,” Chavda said.
Addressing academic pressure and well-being
Chavda also urged scholars not to panic over results or let academic pressure push them toward fatal decisions, reminding them that the system allows for repeat attempts.
“Whether it is six times or even more than 12 times, our university can conduct examinations more than once. Students should not take such a step because of examination-related stress and should stay away from thoughts of suicide,” he said.
The administration noted that hardware upgrades are just one part of student welfare, pointing out that open discussions, counseling options, and personal support systems remain essential to tackling student anxiety.