Urging educational institutions to be alert and careful about the ragging problem, Governor Bharat Vir Wanchoo on Monday asked the authorities to enforce the Goa Prohibition of Ragging Act, 2008, which, he said, provides the legal and regulatory mechanism to deal with the problem.
The Governor was addressing a review meeting at the Raj Bhavan to ascertain steps to be taken to prevent ragging in educational institutions.
There were reports in newspapers on Monday that there had been instances where some senior students of Goa Engineering College ragged their juniors in the college bus. Principal of the college broached the issue and told the Governor that investigation is on.
The meeting was attended by Vice-Chancellor Satish Shetye, Secretary to Governor Neeraj Semwal, Secretary (Higher Education) Faizi O. Hashmi, Dean, Goa Medical College, V.N. Zindal, Dean, Goa Dental College, Ida De Noronha, Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Vishram Borkar and Superintendent of Police (South Goa) Shekhar Prabhu Desai.
Mr. Wanchoo emphasised that all educational institutions should curb ragging by implementing the existing laws and mechanisms meticulously.
The Governor said that while the motto of the authorities must be to have a ragging-free State, educational institutions should cooperate with the government in its efforts in this direction.
“While ragging may not be a problem in educational institutions in Goa, we have in the past come across incidents of crime against our students,” he said.
Mr. Shetye said that steps should be taken by the university to curb ragging on campus, which included installing CCTV cameras in prime locations, creating awareness among students about ragging, and inclusion of wardens in girls’ hostel.
Director of Education Anil Powar and Director of Higher Education Bhaskar Nayak also attended the meeting.
