Chennai: IIT Madras on Saturday launched an exclusive gym for female students, a musical fountain on campus and an exclusive space for outside-classroom activities as part of its student wellness initiatives.IIT Madras director V Kamakoti launched these facilities after Independence Day celebrations on the campus. Gajendra Circle, one of the important landmarks within the IIT campus, will feature a music and lights show along with the water fountain every evening from 7pm to 7.15pm.“It is scientifically proven that listening to music and watching the flow of the water significantly lowers the cortisol levels, reduces anxiety and refreshes the brain. It will help students, faculty members and other residents to relax and recharge themselves amid their demanding schedules,” said professor Sathyanarayana N Gummadi, dean of students, IIT Madras.A gym for female students is another key initiative for making the campus inclusive for women.“About 30% of the 10,000 students housed at IIT Madras are girl students. Earlier, they were given exclusive access from 3pm to 5pm. During this time, girl students were attending classes and labs. So, the institute has come up with an exclusive gym for them,” Gummadi said.The institute also earmarked a space for outside-the-classroom activities at Nalanda Square near the Students Activity Centre.“The open-air space hosted interactive, non-classroom learning activities such as life-skill courses and outbound training (OBT) for all freshers to emphasise the importance of teamwork. Any faculty member at IIT Madras who wants to take classes in an open-air environment or encourage outdoor activities can bring their students to this square,” he added.Earlier, the institute also launched other initiatives such as a protein mess for sportspersons and an inclusive centre in the library to help students with disabilities to access resources with assistive devices.
