IIT-K may soon unplug Net post-midnight

Kautilya Singh Posted online: Mon Nov 22 2010, 06:58 hrs

To prevent misuse of internet facilities and help students focus on studies, the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) authorities are contemplating restricting the Internet facilities provided in the institute hostels.

The issue has cropped up soon after the suicide by BTech student Madhuri Sale (21), who was not performing well in her academics for the past 12 months.

After the mid-term semester exams, which will be over on November 22, the authorities intend to raise a proposal in this regard before the institute Senate.

At present, 4,900-odd students have round-the- clock access to Internet in their hostel through Wi-Fi. If the proposal is accepted, they will be deprived of Internet facility from midnight to 8 am. The main server of the Wi-Fi system of internet will be switched off at midnight.

Few faculty members strongly believe that the excessive use of Internet by students in late night was having an adverse impact on their academics and health.

Sale, a BTech final year student in the Civil Engineering Department, had hanged herself in her hostel room on November 17.

Previously, Internet services were restricted for a brief period after the suicide of MTech student Gangapatnam Suman, in January 2009. But after objections by the Student Gymkhana Club members, the restrictions were removed.

Due to the ongoing mid-term semester exams from November 15 to 22, the IIT-K authorities are unwilling to initiate any move which could distract students.

A senior staff member said: The unwarranted use of Internet at late night was having an adverse effect on the students performance.

Pointing out that classes get over at 5pm and seven hours is enough to finish additional course work on Internet, he said: Many students who work online till late night or early morning are unable to concentrate during the day.

The IIT-K faculty member said restricting net use will definitely boost performance. As a result of excessive internet usage, some students fail to attend classes, others find it hard to understand what it being taught.

The Registrar, IIT-K, Sanjeev S Kashalkar, said: We have been planning the move for long, but due to the ongoing mid-term exams we did not initiate any step in the regard.

Kashalkar, however, pointed out the Internet hours can only be reduced after an approval from the institute Senate  which comprises administrative faulty, teaching staff and students.

Once the senate approves, we will be in a condition to take a decision to stop Internet service at night, he added.