Director of Ashoka Centre for Wellbeing Steps Down, Prompting Structural Changes in Campus Mental Health Services

Psychotherapist Dr. Arvinder Singh, the director and founder of the Ashoka Centre for Well-being (ACWB), has stepped down after nearly a decade of heading counselling services for students, faculty, and staff at Ashoka University. In an email to the students on March 9th, 2026 Dr. Singh wrote of her departure from the ACWB, expressing gratitude for the center and for the students who contributed to “build a culture of well-being”.

In an interview with The Edict, Ajitesh Vishwanath (UG’27), Minister of Community Well-Being, shared that the administration is working to appoint a new director to hold Dr. Singh’s role, and new counsellors are in the process of being appointed. “Since Dr. Singh held such a significant role, the delay is expected”, he added.

Dr. Singh told The Edict that her transition from her role came from a need to branch out and pursue long-standing work in the fields of peace-building and meditation, a path which “had naturally slowed down while [she] was immersed in ACWB. Having spent close to a decade at Ashoka, it feels like the right moment to return to that commitment." She shared immense appreciation for ACWB and being involved in “giving it a vision and creating impact, not just on campus, but also being acknowledged for its peer support initiatives internationally”.

An email from the Ministry of Community Well-Being (MCWB) announced the structural changes to follow. Previously functioning as a non-aligned body, ACWB will now operate under the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs (DSA) and will be integrated with the Student Care Office (SCO) in the interim period.

Following Dr. Singh’s departure, along with the resignation of several counsellors, the Student Care Office (SCO) is offering counselling services, which are available on all days of the week for in-person sessions from 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM at the ACWB office, alongside 24/7 online counselling through YourDost therapy services, with both counselling options accessible to students through email. The services were offered prior to the transition, but are now the primary counselling service available; the office has relocated to ACWB’s office.

Vishwanath also stated that under the new office,  the center’s ideals and vision remain the same; however, students can expect certain changes in how well-being services are structured and delivered. Previously, ACWB and the infirmary (changed to Student Care Office / Office of Student Affairs) functioned separately. Vishwanath claimed that the incorporation of the administration and the Student Care Office (SCO) (changed to ACWB) is an idea borrowed from foreign universities’ administrative structures where all services are consolidated under the Student Affairs Office.

In this current phase, without a director for the center, the DSA and SCO may take on greater operational responsibility. Vishwanath shared that there are no changes in policies or safeguards regarding confidentiality that students should be aware of, adding that the DSA is only looped in certain cases (which are called Mental Health Emergencies, including self-harm, ideation, etc), particularly in line with legal guidelines on involving the student’s guardians/family.

He added that student feedback will continue to shape campus mental health services, and adjustments may be made as needed. He emphasised the availability of resources during this transitional phase, noting that students can consult reviews and feedback from their peers when choosing a therapist, through a repository of such information at any time.

[Edited by Tanisha Pandey and Madiha Tariq]