Ragging menace
IVA SAHAY
Another academic year will begin shortly. Many more new comers would face the menace of ragging in their colleges, hostels and universities. The UGC, the MCI, and the AICTE must mandate that in all academic institutions that fall within their purview, student’s committees will be constituted.
Such a committee may comprise up to 15-20 members. A majority of members would be newcomers. For example, if both UG and PG courses are run, the newcomers will be drawn from the first year courses of each. The rest will be senior students so that coordination is ensured and abuse prevented. Two teachers, one male and one female will be appointed on the committee.
The institution will not wait for students to voluntarily enrol themselves on the committee. It will be constituted by the draw of lots. Girls and boys should be equally represented. The committee’s mandate will be confined to ragging cases only or any other form of abuse the newcomers face.
Outlawing ragging can only be one of the measures as it is no secret for us that laws in India are observed more in breach. Helpline can only be a centralised method to tackle the menace, but it cannot guarantee that all cases will be looked into especially in the initial stage.
A committee would unite the newcomers but not against the seniors, as seniors too will be part of it. It will unite them only against abuse and misconduct by seniors.
Getting united is the only way for a vulnerable section to protect itself.
The statutes of the UGC, the MCI and the AICTE must be amended and such committees ensure strict implementation in each and every college and university.
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