New Delhi, January 14, 2026: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was entered into today between Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses, (SPYM). The signatories were Prof Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar, JMI and Dr Rajesh Kumar, Executive Director, SPYM.
Recognising the importance of mental health and in pursuance of the guidelines of the Supreme Court in the Sukhdeb Saha Case [25th July 2025], a Mental Health and Wellness Cell (MHWC) has been set up in the university. The Cell is mandated to facilitate and implement the ‘Students’ Mental Health and Wellness Policy, 2025’, ensure compliance with various directions, directives, advisories of Education, UGC, Supreme Court etc, engage with the government and non-govt initiatives of mental health, provide direction and professional supervision to various depts and centres, coordinate and supervise various mental health related activities on the campus, prepare a calendar of mental health related activities on the campus on an annual basis and keep a record of the activities conducted for the purpose, jointly with the IQAC.
The programme was introduced by the Chairperson of the Mental Health and Wellness Cell, Prof Zubair Meenai, who mentioned how the seeds of this programme and partnership was sown at the workshop conducted with the Talimi Mela, 2025.
Prof Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar, JMI, welcomed , emphasising the fact that the signing of the Mou is just the initiation that would go into an extremely constructive programme. He also highlighted the need for such an initiative where there were around 22,ooo regular students, 23,000 students in the distance programme and around 7,000 in the school, not to mention the faculty and staff. He also generously acknowledged the contribution of the members of the cell, the Chairperson, Prof Zubair Meenai, Prof Sarika Sharma, Prof Samina Bano, Dr Faijullah Khan, Dr Saba M Bashir and Dr Irshad Naqvi.
Dr Rajesh Kumar, introduced the members who were present there – Dr Nimesh Desai, a renowned psychiatrist with an expertise to deal with substance abuse; Mr Gary Reid, who has has been the technical officer for World Health Organisation for substance abuse; and Mr K Narayan, who was earlier with the Ministry of Railways and also with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The need to train peer educators and peer counsellors was empahasised. This Memorandum of Understanding aims to explore, extend and strengthen the functional relationship between JMI and Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses, and establish collaboration in areas of mutual interest in sharing knowledge, facilities, infrastructure and research on mutually agreed terms.
This MOU will be in effect from the date of signing, and will remain in force until 5 years, thereafter extendable upon review of activities and mutual interests, or until such time as proper notification is given by one or both the parties of the intent to terminate or to modify the relationship between both parties
