Bhubaneswar: With a series of recent suicide cases allegedly owning to ragging and the state occupying 4th place across the country in this menace, Odisha government has asked authorities of universities and degree colleges to initiate immediate measures as soon as the allegations come to their knowledge.
Odisha’s Higher Education Department Wednesday wrote letters to Vice Chancellors of Universities and Principals of Degree Colleges to take preventive measures to curb such incidents.
The department directed the VCs and principals to file FIR with the local police after getting prima facie evidence on ragging. The educational institutions have also been asked to take action against the students found guilty of ragging or abetment of ragging without waiting for the outcome of the police investigation.
The state had this year reported at least two suicide cases allegedly due to ragging, one from Bhima Bhoi Medical College Hospital in Bolangir and another from BJB Autonomus College in Bhubaneswar, raising major eyebrows in Odisha. The department suggested the VCs and principals that it is compulsory for each student and his/ her parent/ guardian to submit an online undertaking each academic year in either of the two designated websites– www.Antiragging.In and www.Amanmovement.Org.
Procedure for filing online anti-ragging undertaking has been communicated by UGC vide its letter dated 27.10.2021 (Annexure-B).
If it becomes difficult to file online undertaking, institutions shall obtain physical undertaking from students and their parents/ guardians in the format given in Annexure C (1) and C (2). This apart, all institutions should distribute pamphlet/ leaflet amongst students of all batches once in a quarter, containing anti-ragging messages as well as punitive actions that can be taken against students found involved in ragging.
The pamphlet/ leaflet should also contain National Anti-ragging Helpline number and e-mail ID and also the mobile number and e-mail ID of important functionaries of the institution including that of Hostel Warden, Hostel Superintendent, Head of Institution and Anti-ragging Squad Members.
These telephone numbers and e-mail IDs should also be conspicuously displayed in shape of wall paintings or display board at various places of the institution especially in hostels including private hostels situated outside the campus. Institutions should organize awareness programs/ workshops on “Awareness on Ragging and Anti-Ragging Measures”.
Consciousness among students should be spread by conducting Dramas, Audio Visual Events, Nu-Skool, etc. Efforts should be made to create the ability in students to understand and share the feelings of one another.
Emotional Quotient (EQ) is to be developed in them which will in turn help them to manage their own emotions in a positive way in their professional and personal life.
The authorities will also ensure that anti-ragging Squads, comprising 3 to 4 teachers in each institution, shall be constituted for maintaining vigil, oversight and patrolling function.
The Squad shall remain mobile, alert and active at all times. The telephone number of the Squad members should be intimated to students of all batches through pamphlet/ leaflet and display board/ wall painting. The Squad should make surprise visit to hostels and other places vulnerable to incidents of ragging, including private hostels and such other vulnerable places outside the institution campus.
The Squad shall conduct enquiry into any incident of ragging referred to it by the Head of the institution or any teaching or non-teaching employee of the institution or any student/ parent/ guardian or by any other person; and submit its enquiry report along with recommendations to the Head of the Institution, the letter mentioned. The students accused of ragging should be given adequate opportunity to defend themselves.
On receipt of enquiry report of the Anti-ragging Squad, the Head of the Institution shall take appropriate action as per the provisions of the UGC Regulations.
The Squad shall also conduct discreet random survey amongst fresh students every fortnight during the first three months of the academic year to verify and cross-check whether the institution is indeed free of ragging or not.
“In established cases of ragging, institutions must not try to patch up between the student(s) found guilty of ragging and the victim(s) of ragging. Such laxity towards ragging will do more harm than good to the institution in long-term,” the letter read.
The members of State-level Anti-ragging Committee, District-level Anti-Ragging Committees and HE Department-level Anti-ragging Committee may make random and surprise visits to Universities and Colleges to check whether desired anti-ragging measures are put in place or not, it said.
PTI