In the midst of rising ragging cases that often go unreported or are suppressed in most of the colleges, a number of college authorities hardly seem concerned about the vital issue. So much so that most of the colleges functioning here in Capital City rarely receive any ragging complains. Forget about the number of cases registered so far, several college officials are even clueless about the total strength of committee members present in the anti-ragging cell.
Notably, when enquired about the present status of anti ragging cell unit of different colleges, most of the officials were unable to give the exact date, anti ragging helpline number functioning on their campus premises. Citing several excuses some officials said that through different campus activities students are counseled at a regular interval so that ragging incidents are avoided at their colleges.
Even at places where anti-ragging units are established they are lying defunct. From the biggest State-owned varsity to small constituent colleges, in spite of the fact that new academic session is likely to commence from August, authorities are little concerned about it.
The Ranchi University (RU) that has a total student intake of approximately one lakh students in every academic sitting in different stream does not have full-fledged anti-ragging cell functioning to address the major issue.
When asked about the working of anti ragging cell unit from RU, Dean Student Welfare, Girija Shankarnath Shahdeo said that ragging cases are mostly registered at technical institutions and so far no major incident of ragging has come into university’s attention. Shahdeo appeared completely clueless when queried about the total number of committee members present at RU Anti-ragging cell.
“We follow protective measures and before the start of new session every year, we issue instructions separately to each department heads to be vigilant. The directives issued by the varsity clearly mentions that stringent actions will be taken against the offenders, if found guilty in ragging cases,” added, Shahdeo.
Even at small colleges like SS Memorial affiliated to RU though the college has established an anti-ragging unit on campus premises but when enquired about its status, Principal, Dr. Nand Kumar was unable to give the exact number of staffs present in anti-ragging unit including the record of number of cases that has been registered with the anti ragging unit of the institution.
Even at Ranchi Women’s College that enrolls students in quite a number in various streams from adjoining areas have by far registered only two ragging cases since the establishment of anti ragging cell on college premises as per, Principal, Dr. Manju Sinha. She mentioned that due to the alertness of college administrative cell, no cases of ragging has been registered since 2009. For students’ convenience helpline numbers are displayed on campus, stated the college principal. Notably, UGC in 2009 has made mandatory for each university and colleges to set up anti-ragging unit in two stages committee and squads, following the directives of the commission.