Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) in Gujarat's Surat has installed 388 anti-suicide ceiling fans across its nine hostels as a precautionary measure to prevent suicide attempts and improve student safety. The specially designed fans feature a spring mechanism that makes them tilt downwards when a weight exceeding 10 kg is applied, cutting off the electricity supply. The initiative covers five girls' hostels and four boys' hostels at the university. According to the university administration, 170 anti-suicide fans have been installed in the girls' hostels and 218 in the boys' hostels.

The fans are designed to reduce the risk of students using ceiling fans to attempt suicide. Under normal conditions, they function like conventional fans. However, when the specified weight threshold is exceeded, the spring mechanism activates, causing the fan to drop downwards from its usual position. The university has undertaken the initiative as a preventive measure, aiming to make hostel rooms safer for students.

HOW THE ANTI-SUICIDE FANS WORK

The specially designed fans have a spring-based safety mechanism that responds when excessive weight is applied. Once the load crosses 10 kg, the mechanism activates, causing the fan to tilt downwards. The electricity supply is also cut off, according to the university's Vice-Chancellor, Kishorsinh Chavda.

The mechanism is intended to prevent the fans from being used as anchor points for hanging and potentially help save lives. However, the installation is a preventive safety measure and cannot guarantee that every suicide attempt will be prevented.

Each fan costs more than Rs 2,500, Chavda said.

'WE WANT TO PREVENT SUCH INCIDENTS'

Explaining the decision, VNSGU Vice-Chancellor Kishorsinh Chavda said the university had installed the special fans as a precaution, even though no such incident had occurred on its campus.

"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.

He said the university had taken the step in view of similar incidents reported at other universities and wanted to prevent such cases on its own campus.

Chavda also emphasised that students should not view examinations as a reason to take extreme steps, pointing out that the university conducts examinations multiple times to give students further opportunities.

"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.

STUDENT SAFETY BEYOND INFRASTRUCTURE

The installation of anti-suicide fans is part of the university's effort to strengthen safety measures in student hostels. Academic pressure, examinations and personal circumstances can contribute to stress among students, making preventive infrastructure and timely support important.

While the special fans may reduce one potential means of suicide, access to counselling, mental health support and timely intervention remain important aspects of student welfare.

Through the installation of 388 spring-equipped fans across its nine hostels, VNSGU is seeking to introduce an additional layer of protection for students living on campus.

  India Today https://share.google/x8ve1mbXb3YeDax2v