The Hindu : Front Page : 24x7 anti-ragging helpline launched

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Sunday, Jun 21, 2009
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24x7 anti-ragging helpline launched

Aarti Dhar

Complaint can be lodged via telephone or email

Identity of the caller will be protected
The complaint will be tracked until action is taken

— Photo: V.V.Krishnan

Curbing the menace: HRD Minister Kapil Sibal makes the first phone call to launch the anti-ragging helpline, in New Delhi. To his left is Minister of State for Human Resource Development, D. Purandeswari.

NEW DELHI: Bringing relief to thousands of students who fear the campus menace as the new academic session begins, the Centre on Saturday launched a round-the-clock anti-ragging helpline.

Based on the Raghavan Committee recommendations, the Supreme Court directed the University Grants Commission to fund a toll-free helpline for students in distress.

The helpline (1800-180-5522) was launched by Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal. Another number, 155222, will be functional within three months. Students, parents and guardians can file complaints also via the Internet on helpline@antiragging.net.

Unique number

The call centre is located in Delhi and the professionals manning it will respond to calls in English, Hindi and a selected regional language with a call recording system. When the complaint is registered, the caller will be given a unique number.

Within 15 minutes, the complaint will automatically be sent to the authorities concerned. But the identity of the caller will be protected.

The unique number can be used as a reference for all future communication and feedback.

To ensure accountability

Once the grievance has been received by the institution, an officer concerned will look into the merit of the complaint and forward it for action. The matter will be tracked until necessary action is taken.

Reminder

If the complaint is not acted upon within a specified time, senior officers will get a reminder either by email or on the phone, Mr. Sibal said.

The reminders will go up to the institutional as well as executive level, if required, to ensure accountability.

After necessary action is taken, the student will get a call or email confirmation containing details of his or her complaint and action taken.

‘Demoralising’

Mr. Sibal said this was the first time the government took a concrete decision to prevent the menace.

“Ragging can be demoralising, demeaning and [can] leave an adverse impact on the student. It can spoil his or her career and even life,” he said. The Minister said he, as a student, was ragged by others and that he had also teased freshers. “But no harm was done.”

“Even if the intention is not bad, one never knows what kind of impact ragging can have on the student because the dividing line is thin,” he said.

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