Schools not immune to anti ragging checks

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While detailing the steps his ministry has taken to check the recurrence of the incidence of ragging in higher educational institutions, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal reiterated government’s firm commitment to “zero tolerance” to the scourge.

In response to a discussion on the measures to be taken to curb the menace, Mr. Sibal informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the government has placed the institutions under the University Grants Commission (UGC) under legal scanner. 
 
Central regulatory agencies, the All India Council for Technical Education, Medical Council of India, Indian Nursing Council and Dental Council of India, were told to strictly adhere to the UGC norms to monitor the institutes under their jurisdiction. 
 
The minister said the government would also monitor schools to ascertain that no incident of ragging takes in any of the educational institution, big or small.
 
As against previously held notion that ragging within college or university does not come under the act of crime now all the places come under the ambit of the regulation.
“The government is committed to deal with this menace to ensure lives of young is not affected by this scourge.” Sibal asserted. A helpline for students to complain about ragging has become operational. Such complaints will be attended promptly and acted upon in just 15 minutes of receiving them.
 
Anti-ragging squads were also constituted under principals. 
 
Among the stringent action against the students found guilty of indulging in ragging would be suspension from the class, debarring from admission and examinations, rustication, withholding scholarships and results, etc. 
 
The institutes failing to implement these regulations may face punitive action. Their recognition and grants can be withheld by the UGC.