The Hindu : New Delhi News : No `no smoking' in Ramjas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

No `no smoking' in Ramjas

Lakshmi B. Ghosh

`The onus is on the students. We don't believe in moral policing' A majority of colleges admit that stopping students from smoking is difficult

NEW DELHI: Most Delhi University colleges may be trying hard to keep the "unholy" smoke out of their compound by adding the "No Smoking" banner to their existing list of anti-ragging posters, but at least one college on the North Campus seems to believe that students are old enough to make their own decisions. It still shuns the habit no doubt, but by deleting a rather important line in its hostel information bulletin, Delhi University's reputed Ramjas College has now put the onus on the students to take the right path.

While information about the new girls' hostel may seem to be the only change to the new Ramjas Hostel Bulletin and the general rules and conditions for residents seem to be unchanged, Rule No. 5.7 now has an important line deleted.

A comparison of the current brochure with that of last year interestingly enough reveals that the "No Smoking" clause has been removed. As per the new rule, "consumption of alcoholic drinks/intoxicating drugs etc is strictly prohibited in the hostel. Anyone indulging in the above will be liable for disciplinary action, including expulsion from the hostel".

A "liberal move" to leave the decision with students, the college insists that the step is in no way an attempt to encourage the habit. When the change was pointed out to a teacher involved in hostel affairs, the teacher while admitting that the part had been deleted said: "We are in no way attempting to encourage smoking. Yet we believe that the young people who come to this college are mature enough and empowered enough to make choices of their own. We don't believe in moral policing."

Despite the strict guidelines in a majority of colleges, most admit that stopping students from smoking is difficult. A round of canteen and sports ground is all it takes to know how well implemented the rules are.

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