Anti- ragging cells spread the word as date for commencement of first year junior
college
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.
The anti- ragging cells also plan to conduct sessions with the fresher's 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 antiragging 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.
Rule Book 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.
Courtesy: Mid Day
