IIT Kharagpur's ‘Campus Mothers’, though much-needed, risks perpetuating gender bias in care work and emotional labour

By Muskan Shah, Dr Moitrayee Das

IIT Kharagpur, the first and oldest Indian Institute of Technology, is an institution renowned globally for its excellence in education and research. With 21 hostels housing 16,000 students, the campus is home to some of the greatest scholars and top-ranking students from around the country and globe. So, what does it mean when an institution like this appoints ‘Mothers’ for care work on campus?

On 24 July 2025, IIT Kharagpur newsroom announced ‘Campus Mothers’, a two-pronged approach intended to improve student well-being on the campus. The programme combines AI-driven monitoring tools and trained female faculty as well as female staff

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