Mahatma Gandhi University will soon review the steps being taken by the colleges affiliated to it to check the menace of ragging on the campuses. The move is part of the efforts made by the universities across the State to check the menace.
Senior university officials said that the colleges should follow the recommendations issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for preventing incidents of ragging during the new academic year. Colleges will be asked to submit an action taken report on the various steps being implemented to check ragging.
Colleges will have to put up display boards stating that ragging is totally prohibited and that acts of ragging would invite punishment under the UGC regulations and the penal law. Prospectus and brochures issued by the college authorities should prominently print these regulations and should also draw attention to laws governing the issue.
The college prospectus should have the phone numbers of the anti-ragging helpline and all important functionaries of the institution, including the head of the institution, faculty members, members of the anti-ragging committees, anti-ragging squads, district and sub-divisional authorities and wardens of hostels.
The affiliated colleges should obtain affidavits from the student and his parent or guardian, each attesting to the fact that no ragging has been done by the student or will be done by the student and that they are aware that it is an offence to indulge in ragging. Application for admission should be accompanied by a character certificate reporting on the inter-personal/social behavioural pattern of the applicant, which will be issued by the school or institution last attended by the applicant.
The head of the institution should convene a meeting of the various functionaries or agencies, including hostel wardens, representatives of students, parents or guardians, faculty, district administration, including the police at the commencement of the academic session to discuss the measures to check ragging.
The institution must give wide publicity and take measures to create awareness about the objectives of the UGC regulations and particularly the de-humanising effect of ragging. Institutions should also approach the media to publicise the institution's resolve to ban ragging and punish those found guilty without fear or favour. The institution should identify and keep a close watch on all locations known to be vulnerable to occurrences of ragging incidents and tighten and improve security on its premises.
