VIJAYAWADA: As the new academic year for engineering colleges began a while ago, instances of ragging were reported in various colleges across State. The higher education council has instructed all the college managements to form an anti-ragging committee and take serious action against students accused of ragging.
The college managements have also been asked to organise anti-ragging workshops and morality classes. The colleges that already have anti-ragging committees have been told to upgrade and strengthen them.
Despite having committees, some college managements are underplaying ragging incidents and contending themselves with giving out warnings.
Kaushik (name changed), who joined a reputed engineering college recently, was upset over an incident that amounted to ragging and complained to his college management.
However, the management did not take his complaint seriously, and just issued a warning to Kaushik’s senior, who had been accused of ragging, further discouraging other victims from speaking up.
Speaking over this, S Vijaya Raju, Chairman of AP State Council for Higher Education (APSCHE) said, “As of now, we have given clear instructions to all the colleges to take stringent action against the students accused of ragging. They are to take preventive measures in order to curb ragging. We have also written letters to police officials to conduct anti-ragging awareness camps in the colleges across the State.”
Students resort to ragging their juniors because of their disturbed mental condition, or peer pressure, he added.
“In these cases, even an anti-ragging squad or committee finds it difficult to blame the accused students. For these instances, we wanted to hold some morality seminars, anti-ragging workshops,” he added.
Meanwhile, college managements are stating that their anti-ragging committees are working well and students themselves are coming forward and taking a proactive role in preventing ragging incidents.
Speaking to TNIE, A Chandrashekar, Incharge of Anti-Ragging Committee at a private college, said, “The anti-ragging committees we have consist of police personnel, students of every year, and faculty. The ragging incidents have come down drastically from previous years. Students are also coming up with anti-ragging short films and campaigns.”