Overview of Anti- Ragging Cell

Anti-Ragging Committee will be the supervisory and advisory committee in preserving a Culture of Ragging Free Environment in the college Campus.

An Anti-ragging cell is a crucial body established within colleges and universities to tackle the issue of ragging – any form of physical, mental, or emotional harassment inflicted upon junior students by their seniors. Ragging can create a hostile learning environment, impede academic progress, and leave lasting emotional scars on victims. To combat this menace, anti-ragging cells play a vital

role in promoting a safe and inclusive campus culture.

Anti- Ragging Cell according to UGC

As per the guidelines of UGC under the Act of 1956, letter no F.1-16/2007(CPP-II) which is modified as UGC regulations on curbing the menace of Ragging in higher Educational Institutions, 2009, establishment of Anti-Ragging Cell is very compulsory. The students are therefore directed to strictly desist from any kind of ragging. As per the order of Supreme Court of India and subsequent Notification from University Grants Commission (UGC), ragging constitutes one or more of any intention by any student or group of students on:

1. Any act of Indiscipline, Teasing or Handling with Rudeness.
2. Any act that Prevents, Disrupts the Regular Academic Activity.
3. Any activity which is likely to cause Annoyance, hardship, Psychological Harm or creates Fear or Apprehension.
4. Any Act of Financial Extortion or Forceful Expenditure.
5. Any Act of Physical Abuse causing Assault, Harm or danger to Health.
6. Any Act of abuse by spoken words, emails, SMS or public insult etc.
7. Any Act of injury or infringement of the fundamental right to the human dignity.
8. Any Act of Wrongful Confinement, Kidnapping, molesting or committing unnatural offences, use of criminal forces, trespass or intimidation.
9. Any unlawful assembly or conspiracy to ragging.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken several steps through amendments and regulations to curb the menace of ragging in India. The most recent and significant of these is the UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Eradication of Ragging in Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2022, also known as the Third Amendment to the anti-ragging regulations.

Here’s a breakdown of the key changes introduced by the Third Amendment:

Strengthened Reporting Mechanisms:

Mandatory online anti-ragging portal: Colleges and universities must establish an online portal where students can anonymously report ragging incidents.

Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs): Composition of ICCs revamped to prioritize student representation and include external members from NGOs or police.

Time-bound complaint resolution: ICCs must complete investigations and make recommendations within a specified timeframe.

Enhanced Anti-Ragging Measures:

Anti-ragging awareness programs: Mandatory sensitization programs for faculty, staff, and students on ragging prevention and support mechanisms.

Anti-ragging oath: All students must take an oath to abstain from ragging and report any such incidents.

Proactive campus monitoring: Increased vigilance through CCTV cameras, patrolling, and surprise checks in vulnerable areas.

Stricter Penalties for Perpetrators:

Expulsion and rustication: ICCs can recommend harsher penalties like expulsion or rustication for severe or repeated ragging offenses.

Criminal prosecution: Police involvement mandated for serious cases, with provisions for imprisonment and hefty fines.

Compensation for victims: Institutions must provide financial and medical assistance to victims of ragging.

Additionally:

The Third Amendment clarifies the definition of ragging, encompassing a wider range of behaviors beyond physical violence.

It emphasizes the role of hostel wardens and faculty advisors in preventing and addressing ragging incidents.

Collaboration with external agencies like police and anti-ragging squads is encouraged.

The Third Amendment represents a significant step forward in the fight against ragging. By strengthening reporting mechanisms, implementing preventive measures, and imposing stricter penalties, it aims to create a safer and more inclusive learning environment for all students in India.

Objectives:

Promoting a positive campus culture and Encouraging healthy interactions among students, fostering inclusivity and mutual respect, and creating a safe and supportive environment can help prevent the breeding ground for ragging.

Raising awareness to educate students, faculty, and staff about the various forms of ragging, its harmful consequences, and the zero-tolerance policy in place is crucial.

Promoting a positive campus culture and Fostering healthy interactions among students, encouraging inclusivity and mutual respect, and creating a safe and supportive environment can help prevent the breeding ground for ragging.

Establishing transparent reporting mechanisms by Providing accessible and anonymous channels for students to report ragging incidents, such as helplines, online portals, and designated complaint boxes, empowers victims to come forward without fear of retribution.

Ragging implies the following:

Any act or abuse by spoken works, emails, snail mails, public insult should be considered with in the psychological aspects of ragging.

Bullying a student into doing assignments or excluding a student from campus activities.

Any act of physical abuse including all variants of it: sexual abuse, homosexual assaults, stripping, forcing obscene and lewd acts, gestured, causing bodily harm or any other danger to health or person can be put in the category of ragging with criminal dimensions.

Any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a junior student by senior students should be considered an aspect of ragging for ragging economic dimensions.

Any act that prevents, disrupts or disturbs the regular academic activity of a student should be considered with in the academics related aspect of ragging; similarly, exploiting the services of a junior student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of seniors is also an aspect of academics related ragging prevalent in many institutions, particularly in the technical institutions.

This involves physical violence or abuse, such as hitting, kicking, pushing, shoving, or restraining someone.

This involves using emotional manipulation, social exclusion, or isolation to harm someone’s mental well-being.

This involves forcing someone to spend money against their will, such as demanding money, gifts, or expensive treats.

This involves using technology to harass or bully someone, such as sending abusive messages, spreading rumors online, or creating fake profiles to impersonate someone.

Exploiting the services of a fresher or any other student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students

Indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities by any student or students which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship, physical or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student.

Punishment to those found guilty:

According to the UGC Regulation on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, depending on the nature and gravity of the guilt established by the Anti-Ragging Squad, those found guilty may be awarded one or more of the following punishments, namely;

1. Cancellation of the admission
2. Withholding the results.
3. Suspension from the college
4. Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges
5. Debarring from appearing in any sessional test / University Examination
6. Warning, writing apology letter
7. Rustication from the institution for period ranging from one to sixth semesters.
8. Debarring from representing the institution in any regional, national or international meet, tournament, youth festival, etc.
9. Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for a specified period.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

The complaint management mechanism is carried out in three levels in the institution:

1. If any student is harassed by ragging should immediately brought to the notice of the mentor/HOD/Principal.
2. If not resolved it should be brought to the notice of Anti Ragging cell. The cell, must immediately investigate the lodged complaint and take necessary disciplinary action.
3. If harassment still unresolved, Principal in conclusion with the management can proceed with punishment based on the complaint logged and previous enquires.

Roles and Responsibility:

Make the campus ragging free

Provide training and guidance to all staff and students on handling all complaints regarding ragging.

Devise mechanism for receiving, processing and addressing all information regarding incidence of ragging.

Should maintain all the records related to organizing of meetings, grievance log book, maintenance of relevant document, files and folders etc.

Should maintain discipline in gathering and occasion of the college to avoid unnecessary clashes.