Anti-ragging committees must in all educational institutions

The Odisha government today made it mandatory for all educational institutions including engineering colleges in the state to constitute anti-ragging committees and anti-ragging squads.

"Any form of ragging will not be tolerated. If any student is found guilty, he/she would be rusticated from the institutions without any consideration," Higher Education Minister Ananta Das told reporters.

All educational institutions have been told to constitute anti-ragging committee and anti-ragging squads, he said.

Das said even winking inside the college premises would be taken as an offence.

The minister said he has asked the Higher Education secretary to issue a circular to all educational institutions asking them to strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the state government and the UGC.

"Educational institutions have been given guideline on how to tackle ragging incidents. All colleges must have anti-ragging cells and anti-ragging squads. The district collectors, SPs, college principals, students and guardians too have their role in preventing ragging," Srikant Prusty, additional secretary in Higher Education told PTI.

Official sources in the Higher Education department informed that at least 207 ragging cases were reported from across the state between 2013 and 2017.

There were 46 ragging cases in the state in 2017, they said adding that the apart from Higher Education Department, the Skill Development and Technical Education Department has also issued circulars to all the district collectors to remain vigil towards ragging incidents in their jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, sources said authorities of all universities and some educational institutions have formed anti-ragging cell and circulated posters at several places inside the campus to apprise the students about the quantum of punishment for ragging junior students.