In order to sensitise students and curb the menace of ragging in higher education institutions, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has urged the heads of all institutions to ensure that students are shown four short films and a documentary on the ill-effects of ragging. The UGC had got the films made for spreading awareness on the problem.
In a circular issued to Vice-Chancellors of all universities, institutions and regulatory bodies, Jaspal S. Sandhu, UGC secretary, has urged colleges to screen the films during orientation and other programmes. The films have been uploaded on the UGC website.
The same circular also reiterates that if any college fails to take up adequate steps to prevent ragging or fails to punish the perpetrators, it will face action as per the UGC Act. All institutions, besides having regulations to curb the menace of ragging in their institutions, are also expected to have a monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance.
Ravinandan B.B., State vice-president, All-India Democratic Students’ Organisationwelcomed the move. However, he pointed out that to tackle the root cause of ragging, there is a need for students and colleges to start an ethical and cultural movement. “There is a need to ensure that the syllabus is tweaked and reoriented to ensure that it is sensitive about people lower economic and social backgrounds.”
Karthik R., a second-year MBBS student, said the move was much needed. “Although instances of extreme forms of ragging are few, there is a need to ensure that instances of bullying, which are brushed off as minor issues, are taken seriously as they affect the morale of students,” he said.
