Kolkata: IIT Kharagpur is set to roll out an high-level automated notification system at the main gate of the institute for greater surveillance of students’ movements in and out of the campus to ensure their safety. The new system—developed using various technologies and artificial intelligence—will trigger SMS or mail alerts to parents or guardians every time a student enters or exits the campus premises, particularly during the odd hours, between 10 pm and 6 am. However, students flagged ‘privacy’ and ‘autonomy,’ concerns regarding the automated system.The Technology Students’ Gymkhana conducted an emergency Senate meeting on Wednesday and circulated a form among students to seek feedback that prioritises students’ safety without compromising freedom. “The students’ body held an emergency Senate meeting and communicated our concerns to the administration. We were assured that the automated system will not be implemented until student feedback is thoroughly reviewed,” a student said. The institute has decided to introduce the system following a recommendation from the fact-finding committee that was formed after the death of a PhD scholar. He was allegedly killed after being hit by a train. The student had left the campus around evening and met with the accident around night.“The institute had no inkling of his whereabouts after he left the campus. Often, students also write fake phone numbers of parents, making it difficult for us to contact them during emergencies. If something unpleasant happens outside campus, the institute is answerable, so such a system is the need of the hour to keep parents informed,” said an official.“The move was taken to ensure the wellbeing of students and to honour the anxiety of parents who remain worried as their children are far away from them. Since, we do not have any control over the sale of harmful addictive substances outside the campus, we have to implement such an automated system to track and monitor students’ movements, especially during odd hours. It is unfair that you want us to have responsibility but no authority. We must know where they went. If students think that informing parents or guardians about their exit from campus at night is problematic, then they are free to stay outside the campus. There is nothing to fear if their intentions and actions are novel,” director, Suman Chakraborty, said.At present, institute ID cards are mandatory during exit from the campus, and students must enter their details in the register. The warden, faculty adviser and security control must be intimidated through email for exiting campus between 10 pm and 6 am.
