UGC to keep a tab on anti-ragging measures
G. KRISHNAKUMAR
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From the new academic year, the University Grants Commission will monitor the anti-ragging measures being initiated by universities.
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At the end of every academic year, the institution should form a ‘mentoring cell’ consisting of mentors for the succeeding academic year.
Photo: T. Singaravelou
CHECKING THE MENACE: The University Grants Commission has issued guidelines on the steps to be taken by the university or college authorities to check the menace of ragging on campuses.
Come this June and the University Grants Commission (UGC) will keep a close watch on the anti-ragging measures being initiated on the campuses by universities across the country.
The commission has issued broad guidelines on the steps to be taken to check the menace. Universities have to implement the recommendations in three phases — before admission, on admission and at the end of the academic year.
According to the commission recommendations, the advertisement for admissions should clearly mention that ragging is totally banned in the institution and anyone found guilty of ragging and/or abetting ragging is liable to be punished appropriately.
The brochure of admission or instruction booklet for candidates should print these regulations in block letters. The prospectus and other admission-related documents should include all directions of the Supreme Court and /or the Central or State governments as applicable so that the candidates and their parents or guardians are sensitised in respect of the prohibition and the consequences of ragging.
If the institution is an affiliating university, it should make it mandatory for the institutions under it to compulsorily incorporate such information in their prospectus.
The application form for admission or enrolment should have a printed undertaking, preferably both in English and Hindi and in one of the regional languages known to the institution and the applicant, to be filled up and signed by the candidate to the effect that he or she is aware of the law regarding the prohibition of ragging as well as the punishments, and that he or she, if found guilty of the offence of ragging and/or abetting ragging, is liable to be punished appropriately.
The application form should also contain a printed undertaking, preferably both in English and Hindi and in one of the regional languages known to the institution and the parent or guardian, to be signed by the parent or guardian of the applicant to the effect that he or she is also aware of the law in this regard and agrees to abide by the punishment meted out to his or her ward in case the latter is found guilty of ragging and/or abetting ragging.
The application for admission should be accompanied by a document in respect of the school leaving certificate or character certificate, which should include a report on the behavioural pattern of the applicant so that the institution can thereafter keep intense watch upon a student who has a negative entry in this regard.
Every fresher admitted to the institution should be given a printed leaflet detailing when and to whom he or she has to approach for help and guidance for various purposes (including wardens, head of the institution, members of the anti-ragging committees and relevant district and police authorities), addresses and telephone numbers of such persons or authorities and so on.
According to the commission, such a step would reduce the freshers’ dependence on their seniors.
Based on the leaflet, the institution should explain to the new entrants the arrangements for their induction and orientation, which promote efficient and effective means of integrating them fully as students.
It should also tell the freshers about their rights as bona fide students of the institution and clearly instruct them that they should desist from doing anything against their will even if ordered by the seniors and that they have nothing to fear as the institution cares for them and should not tolerate any atrocities against them.
The leaflet should contain a calendar of events and activities laid down by the institution to facilitate and complement familiarisation of juniors with the academic environment of the institution. The institution should also organise joint sensitisation programmes for freshers and seniors.
Freshers should be encouraged to report incidents of ragging, either as victims or even as witnesses.
At the end of every academic year, the Vice-Chancellor, dean of students welfare, director or principal should send a letter to the parents or guardians informing them about the law regarding ragging and the punishments and appealing to them to impress upon their wards to desist from indulging in ragging when they come back at the beginning of the next academic session.
At the end of every academic year, the institution should form a ‘mentoring cell’ consisting of mentors for the succeeding academic year. There should be as many levels or tiers of mentors as the number of batches in the institution, at the rate of 1 mentor for 10 freshers and 1 mentor of a higher level for 10 mentors of the lower level.
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