Student unions, NGOs open front to fight ragging

Anti-ragging cells spread the word as date for commencement of first-year junior college classes draws near

Student unions, NGOs open front to fight ragging

Anti-ragging cells spread the word as date for commencement of first-year junior college classes draws near

With the excitement of commencement of a new academic session comes the nagging fear of ragging, which haunts the students and college administrations alike. While the preparations are on in full swing in colleges to give a warm welcome to the first-year students, anti-ragging cells of students' unions and NGOs are working overtime to senitise seniors about the law and repercussions of ragging, apparently to make newcomers feel at home in the campus.

Say no to ragging: Members of an NGO and students kick off an
anti-ragging campaign in a city college. File picture

The anti-ragging cells also plan to conduct sessions with the freshers to instill confidence in them to confront ragging. The cells have already started putting up posters and distributing pamphlets in colleges. Kondhwa-based Universal Human Rights Foundation (UHRF), which has branches across India, is known for its anti-ragging campaign. The NGO played an important role in bringing the guilty to justice in two recent ragging incidents.

"The first case we took up was about ragging by girls in ILS Law College and last year we took up a case of ragging in College of Agriculture. After these incidents, we started a dedicated anti-ragging cell. People think that a little bit of ragging in good humour is tolerable, but it can go awry anytime. That's why we are creating awareness stop the malpractice polluting the campus culture," said Sunmeet Singh Chowdhary, president of UHRF.

Students' organisation Savera too has started their campaign in colleges by putting up posters and helpline numbers. "We are approaching the students as well as heads of institutions to create awareness. The management also needs to be senitised. Our main focus area is to popularise helpline numbers, so that students can call us up in emergency. Right from counseling to lodging complaints, we are ready to help students in every aspect to fight ragging," said Shailendra Singh, founding member of Savera.

Members of Shivsangram's Students' Front yesterday met Vice-Chancellor R K Shevgaonkar to discuss the ways and means to stop ragging. Colleges administrations, which have their own anti-ragging cells, will start conducting activities when classes commence for new academic session.

"We have an anti-ragging committee which meets regularly besides having a complaint mechanism. We have put up posters of the Anti-ragging Act in our campus and also mentioned it in our prospectus. We take undertaking from students at time of admission regarding ragging," said Rajendra Junzarrao, principal, Modern College, Shivaji Nagar.

Rulebook says
>>According to the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1999, ragging means display of disorderly conduct, doing of any act that causes or is likely to cause physical or psychological harm or raise apprehension or fear or shame or embarrassment to a student in any educational institution. It includes teasing, abusing or asking students to perform any action unwillingly.

>>Ragging is prohibited both within and outside an educational institution.

>>Those who directly or indirectly commit ragging, shall be imprisoned for a term that may extend to two years. The accused should also be liable to a fine amounting to Rs 10,000.

>>Those found guilty of ragging of fellow students should be rusticated