The University Grants Commission (UGC) is stepping up efforts to ensure safety of students on campuses across the country. The move comes especially in the wake of the tragic death of 24 engineering students from Hyderabad, who were part of a group of students on a tour of Himachal Pradesh, in June.
Alarmed at the increasing number of similar incidents involving students in various parts of the country, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) had asked the UGC to frame guidelines aimed at providing adequate safety measures to students on and outside the campuses.
In a letter written to the Vice Chancellors of all universities, Prof. Jaspal S. Sandhu, Secretary, UGC, pointed out that the apex body had decided to frame comprehensive guidelines for all institutions to ensure the safety of students. An expert committee will come up with recommendations on how to ensure the safety of the students.
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“The safety of students on and outside the campuses of higher educational institutions is a matter of paramount importance. Some incidents in the recent past have necessitated the review of the measures already in place in higher educational institutions for the safety of students,” said the letter.
Vice Chancellors have to forward their suggestions on the measures to be taken by the universities and affiliated colleges for the safety of students. The higher educational institutions have to suggest measures that would ensure the safety of students participating in educational and study tours, field visits, excursions and industrial visits or who are engaged in adventure sports or any other related activity.
The idea is to evolve fixed responsibilities on heads of institutions, parents and students on various safety issues on and outside the campuses. The feedback from the Vice Chancellors should include suggestions on safety of day scholars on the campuses; students residing in hostels; and those commuting to and from campuses.
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The higher educational institutions should also give focus on implementing special safety measures for woman students on the campuses. All institutions should set up a task force to ensure women’s security and keep UGC informed of the action taken.
Educational institutions should seriously review the security arrangements for girls and women on their campuses. Wherever necessary, security might be further strengthened in and around the girls’ hostels. The institutions might put in place a dedicated task force, comprising senior faculty members, for constantly monitoring the arrangements and adding to them, if need be.
The heads of various higher educational institutions should also come up with suggestions on ensuring the safety of students with special needs as part of the latest directive from the UGC.