Pune: Protesting students of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER Pune) submitted a list of demands to the director on Monday. Nearly 900 of the approximately 2,000 students on campus signed the letter, according to the protesters.The demands include revocation of the academic suspension of the student council general secretary and a commitment to hire six permanent counsellors and three permanent psychiatrists by Oct 31, 2026. The students also sought funding for regular, mandatory suicide prevention training and mental health sensitisation for both faculty and students. Additionally, they requested the recruitment of a 24/7 nurse with access to the campus pharmacy to handle emergency medical cases outside regular clinic hours.These demands follow a tragic incident on August 16, when a student died after jumping from a campus building.Other requests made by the students include full attendance relaxation until mid-semester examinations, the removal of gender and time-based mobility restrictions in hostels, and access to lecture halls, seminar rooms, the sports complex, and assigned club rooms beyond work hours.“We have asked the administration to ensure that all reports and minutes of meetings regarding our demands are made public to the entire student body,” said a student.An official statement from IISER Pune confirmed that the institute has received a list of demands and that the authorities are currently deliberating on them.
