The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a stern directive to all colleges and Universities, urging them to make sure of their anti-ragging measures ahead of the forthcoming academic session. The request made on April 18, 2024, reminds us of an important decision the Supreme Court of India made on May 8, 2009, and underlines the imperative of effectively tackling this issue of anti-ragging. With the aim of stopping, preventing, and eradicating ragging, which is a heinous criminal offence, the UGC has left no room for ambiguity in its stance.
The UGC is very clear that bullying is a serious crime. It has also crafted “Anti-Ragging Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions” to address the issue of ragging comprehensively. To prevent ragging, the UGC mandates that institutions fully comply with anti-ragging regulations and establish effective monitoring mechanisms. Any act against these directives will be met with stringent repercussions, as emphasised in the official communication. In simple words, failure to abide by the rules can result in penalties.
In line with what the Supreme Court says, each district has to set up committees to stop ragging. These committees, chaired by the District Collector/Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate, comprise key stakeholders including heads of relevant educational institutions, law enforcement representatives, and additional district magistrates serving as member secretaries. Their job is to make sure anti-ragging rules are followed properly.
To keep a close eye on things, it is really important to have representatives from student organisations, local police, district-level NGOs engaged in youth development, local media, administrative bodies, and institutional authorities. These teams/ committees will play a pivotal role in quickly handling any issues that come up.
Furthermore, the UGC announcement underscores how important it is to spread the word about the laws against ragging and its harmful effects. Encouraging institutions to conduct preparatory meetings during the summer breaks to assess their preparedness and adherence to prescribed protocols is also recommended. Beyond enforcing rules, the emphasis is placed on proactive measures, i.e. doing things before a problem occurs. This includes conducting awareness campaigns and reaching out to people. These efforts are about teaching students, teachers, and staff about why bullying is bad and why it’s important to treat each other with respect and kindness and foster a culture of respect and dignity.
The repercussions for breaking anti-ragging laws are severe. Students might end up in jail for three years and have to pay hefty fines. Colleges can get into trouble, too, if they don’t follow the rules, fail to comply or turn a blind eye to this pressing issue. To stop ragging before it starts, the UGC has made rules/ guidelines about how students should behave. This includes things like making fun of how someone looks, disrespecting them, passing derogatory remarks, saying mean things about their background, or making them do things they don’t want to do.
Expanding further on this critical issue, it’s imperative that we need to look at all the different sides of bullying and its profound impact on students, institutions, and society at large. Ragging, often perceived as just a tradition or harmless joke, can have far-reaching consequences. It can really hurt students both mentally and physically. Plus, it can tarnish the reputation of educational institutions.
Bullying doesn’t just hurt one person; it reverberates beyond individual suffering. It fosters and creates a scary, unfriendly atmosphere that goes against the values of freedom, respect, and doing well in school i.e. academic excellence. When bullying happens, it hinders students from being creative, breaks trust, and detracts from the holistic development of students. Also, bullying keeps on happening and makes things worse by spreading harmful ideas and making some students feel more powerful than others. Victims of ragging often suffer in silence because they’re scared of what might happen or being left out by their friends. This culture of silence not only perpetuates the cycle of abuse but also makes it hard for institutes to make any efforts to combat ragging effectively.
Against this backdrop, the UGC’s directive becomes really important. It shows a strong promise to stop bullying and foster a culture of zero tolerance towards violence and harassment in educational institutions. By making strict rules, teaching people about the problem, and getting everyone involved early, the UGC wants to make schools safer and better for students to learn and grow. However, combating ragging requires a multifaceted approach. It needs lots of different things like teaching new students about what’s okay and what’s not, offering counselling, and peer support networks where students can help each other. By dealing with the reasons behind bullying and creating a culture of understanding and respect, schools can create places where students feel safe, appreciated, and able to do their best.
Stopping bullying is a long battle that needs everyone’s effort and dedication. Together, we can build a future where everyone is treated well, and bullying isn’t a problem anymore. Schools, leaders, community groups, and students all need to work together to create a future where every individual is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
the UGC’s order urges colleges to strengthen their anti-bullying policies, showing they’re dedicated to making learning spaces safe and welcoming for everyone. With everyone being watchful, enforcing rules strictly, and getting involved early, we can fight bullying effectively and make education safer and better for all.
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