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Union Human Resource Development minister Smriti Irani has announced a new scheme to for weak students who are prone to depression due to non-performance in studies. The scheme was announced on Friday that will facilitate weak students of some national-level institutes with the assistance of a mentor student. Irani also expressed her concern for growing depression among students.

Irani chaired a meeting of the Council of National Institute of Technology, Science Education and Research held at National Institute of Technology in New Delhi. The minister unveiled a slew of measures to support students. The scheme of 'hand holding' of students who are weak in studies will be implemented in institutions, under which a mentor student will be designated to take care of such students. 

The mentor students will be provided financial incentives which will be supported by HRD Ministry to the concerned National Institutes of Technology (NITs). 

The Council is the apex policy making body for 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), five Indian Institute of Science Education and Research(IISER) and Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur, according to the press release issued by the National Institute of Technology, Warangal. 

Asking NITs, IISERs, and IIEST to adopt "student-centric approach", Irani emphasised that students' grievances should be addressed effectively and in a time-bound manner. She constituted a student grievance redressal cell at the Council level. This cell will monitor the redressal of grievances and coordinate with directors of institutions to address them effectively. 

"Common counselling not only reduced stress on students and parents but also minimised the vacant seats. Less than two per cent seats remained vacant after five rounds of counselling leading to all-time high numbers of admission in these prestigious Institutions," she said. 

Irani also said that institutes should be made an island of excellence and innovation, design and research in specific areas along with the strategy to collaborate for growth.