With the new session set to start in less than two weeks, preparations have already begun to welcome a fresh new batch of students to Delhi University. However along with the orientation sessions and freshers’ parties, what cannot be forgotten is the issue of ragging. Stringent laws have been laid down to curb ragging “in all forms” and college authorities assert that they will no leave no stone unturned in penalizing offenders. This time around however, resistance comes not only from the government and college authorities, but from students themselves.
Meanwhile, DUB finds out what the students’ feel about the issue:-
“I will definitely rag my juniors. And why not? It’s not like they’ll rusticate you for the mild childish stuff!”
– Akash Kaul, *2nd year, Hindu College
”My friends and me plan to have some fun with the freshers in a healthy way. We are definitely not going to just leave them alone like our teachers want us to since that way it gets boring. I would know, since that’s what happened to me last time and I did not like it.”
– Revant Varma, 2nd year, Acharya Narendra Dev College
”I’m definitely ragging freshers, but it will just be more of a ‘friendly interaction’. Everybody wants that kind of fun! If somebody is reluctant then s/he wont be troubled, but I would prefer it if I could get to know my juniors this way. Ragging becomes a problem only when it gets violent or is done with the wrong people i.e. people who do not want to be ragged.”
– Neeti Misra, 2nd year, St. Stephen’s College
“Positive and friendly ragging is interesting and so it’s welcome. No fun without ragging!”
– Ankita Sharma, fresher, Kamla Nehru College
“I am actually looking forward to ragging because I think it’ll be more fun than scary and this is the one chance we get to impress our seniors!”
– Shirine Tigga, fresher, Sri Venkateswara College
“I don’t want to get ragged and am quite apprehensive about my first day in college. I’m an introvert so I won’t be very comfortable doing silly things for the entertainment of my seniors.”
– Priyanka Ghosh, fresher, SRCC
According to the Raghavan committee, set up by the Supreme Court to curb ragging, offenders are to be expelled instead of being suspended as per last year regulations.
The Delhi University Students’ Union has spoken to college principals and hostel wardens.
Posters will be put up in the colleges informing students about the Supreme Court directive.
In more than 20 colleges CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor and check activities such as ragging and eve-teasing. The presence of the CCTV cameras is not to be publicised as university authorities want to take the offenders by surprise.
A toll-free helpline (1800-180-5522) for students in distress was launched by the HRD minister
Another number, 155222, will be functional within three months. Students, parents and guardians can file complaints via the Internet on [email protected] identity of the caller/complainant can remain anonymous.
Other anti-ragging initiatives include 24X7 counseling facilities in hostels and on campus with students and teachers.
Sealed complaint boxes are being set up in different colleges so that students can register their complaints without being identified.