Jose K Joseph
post news network
Bhubaneswar, July 7: The University Grants Commission (UGC) recently expanded definition of ragging to include any form of abuse on racial, ethnic and casteist lines within its ambit. Interactions with students of educational institutions in the region have shown that the practice might be prevalent on campuses but reporting of these is scant.
Some students had stated on the condition of anonymity that if they came out with complaints it could lead to further bullying by seniors. Against this backdrop, educationists and other experts have pointed out the need for more confidence-building measures on campuses to support students to come out with reports of such abuse.
The Supreme Court in its judgment dated May 8, 2009, had suggested measures such as appointment of counsellors, the starting of classes for freshers a week before classes for senior students; joint sensitisation programmes; and joint orientation programmes for ‘freshers’ and ‘seniors’ to be addressed by the principal or head of the institution to address the problem.
The judgement also suggested formation of anti-ragging committee and anti-ragging squads. Further, it called for formation of monitoring cells at the university level to coordinate with affiliated colleges and institutions. The apex court also pointed out the need for a monitoring cell at the level of chancellors of state universities.
Despite these measures, though, ragging remains a worrying issue, going by the figures furnished on the official website for reporting ragging. The UGC has launched a website (www.antiragging.in), a 24-hour national helpline (1800-180-5522) and email id (helpline@antiragging.in) to report ragging.
More than three crore people have visited the website and it offers the facility to check status of complaints. It allows not just the victim of ragging but anyone who notices ragging to file complaints over the helpline or through the website.
Vice-chancellors of leading universities have assured zero tolerance to ragging. They have also called for students to come out boldly and report ragging to anti-ragging cells.
Ashoka Kumar Das, the vice-chancellor of Utkal University said the university has a functional anti-ragging cell. “Students should lodge complaints at this cell without fear. This year onwards, Utkal University is also starting anti-ragging awareness programmes across departments and firm action will be taken on complaints,” he said.
Ravenshaw University vice-chancellor PC Sarangi, too, wants students to boldly report such incidents to the anti-ragging cell. “They can also report such instances to teachers or other officials of the university. The university already has zero tolerance for ragging and immediate action will be taken on complaints,” Sarangi said.
At Berhampur University, the authorities are planning campaigns aimed at sensitising students in an attempt to prevent ragging. “The university,” vice-chancellor Deepak Kumar Behera said, “is planning to paste anti-ragging posters at key locations on the university campus to sensitise the students. The anti-ragging cell will investigate complaints and take necessary action.”
Vice-chancellor of Fakir Mohan University SP Adhikari, too, assured “strict action against students reported to be indulging in ragging”. “The university will not tolerate such incidents,” he said.
Experts that Orissa POST spoke with, however, suggested that the best place to report incidents of ragging was on the UGC web portal as it maintains confidentiality of the victim.