;

front-entrance-photoIIT-KGP faculty members unite to support vaccination drive for campus workers

The Times of India (June 1, 2021)

IIT-Kharagpur professor to pay for vaccination drive on campus

KOLKATA: Faculty members of IIT Kharagpur have come together to pay for those who work on the campus but cannot afford vaccination in private facilities.

The mass vaccination drive that will be organised on the campus by IIT Teachers Association from Friday will include rickshaw pullers, canteen employees, security guards, vegetable and fish mongers and other workers in shops at the Tech Market, maids and support staff. Though the jab is free in government facilities, there is a shortage in the supply of vaccine and long queues discourage people to visit these facilities to get the jabs.

Total 3,000 people are expected to be vaccinated during the drive that will go on for a few days. The drive will happen at the Gymkhana, the students' activity centre of the institute, said registrar Tamal Nath.

IIT Kharagpur has 700 faculty members, most of who are in the 45 plus age group and have been vaccinated for free in government facilities. They feel that since they got the shots for free, it is their duty to extend a helping hand to others in the IIT Ecosystem. Faculty members are also paying for research scholars who are still on the campus. (View the original article)