The University Grants Commission (UGC) has once again reminded all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country of their legal and moral responsibility to ensure a ragging-free campus environment. In view of rising concerns about student safety and mental well-being, the Commission has issued a fresh advisory urging institutions to strictly follow anti-ragging regulations and submit compliance details at antiragging.in.
What Is Ragging?
Ragging is not limited to physical harassment. It covers a wide range of actions-verbal, emotional, and psychological-that cause discomfort, fear, or humiliation to a student.
Here’s what’s ragging:
Mockery or Insult: If any student, through spoken or written words or actions, insults, mocks, or behaves inappropriately with a new or fellow student, it amounts to ragging.
Forced Actions: Asking a student to perform acts they are not comfortable with-or wouldn’t ordinarily do-that result in shame, pain, or emotional distress is considered ragging.
Intimidation or Threats: Any disorderly or undisciplined activity that causes inconvenience, fear, physical or mental harm to another student also falls under ragging.
Disruption of Academic Activities: If a senior student’s behaviour hampers the academic routine or learning of another student, that too qualifies as ragging.
UGC’s Message: Zero tolerance, full compliance
The UGC mandates every institution to implement its 2009 Anti-Ragging Regulation in both letter and spirit. This includes obtaining online undertakings from all students and submitting an institutional compliance report at the beginning of every academic year.
Also Read | UGC Notice To 89 Institutions Includes IITs, IIMs Over Anti-Ragging Norm Violations
Institutions that fail to comply may face serious consequences:
- Withdrawal of UGC funding and research grants
- Public listing as a non-compliant institution
- Potential loss of affiliation or recognition
The UGC has already begun issuing show cause notices to defaulting institutions.
