Maharashtra:To address mental health concerns,the Maharashtra government has recently formed an 11-member expert committee to develop a draft policy on student mental health protection and grievance redressal in educational institutions. This policy will be applicable to public universities (non-agricultural), affiliated colleges, and private universities across Maharashtra. An 11-member expert committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Dr Hemlata Bagla, Vice Chancellor of Mumbai-based HSNC University. She has directed the committee to submit a draft within two months. The formation of the committee was announced in a government resolution issued by the Department of Higher and Technical Education on October 10. The committee was formed after the Supreme Court directed all educational institutions to adopt a uniform mental health policy, inspired by the UMMEED draft guidelines, the Manodarpan initiative and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. The court said that all educational institutions must establish a robust, confidential, and accessible mechanism for reporting, redressal, and prevention of incidents of sexual harassment, assault, ragging, and bullying. Following this order, on August 8, the Union Ministry of Law and Justice directed the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra to implement mental health and suicide prevention measures for students in all educational institutions in the state. Director of Higher Education Shailendra Deolankar was appointed the nodal officer, who submitted the proposal for the formation of the committee. Speaking toThe Indian Express, the Head of the psychology department at SCAC, Alpana Vaidya, said, “The University Grants Commission (UGC) has already prepared a central committee. We also need to have some guidelines and a proper, robust policy in the state regarding suicide prevention and student redressal”. She further added, “In general, academic pressure is the main reason (behind mental health issues in students). In this age, uncertainty about the future and concern about what will happen are other reasons. Peer pressure is another reason that we have noticed”.