Authorities beef up anti-ragging measures

KOCHI: The district administration has decided to beef up anti-ragging measures by setting up special shadow squads. The squads will comprise principals, management representative, police officials and members of Kerala State Legal Services Authorities (KELSA), said E K Sujatham, Additional District Magistrate.“The decision was made against the backdrop of the court verdict on anti-ragging measures. During the last three months, only one ragging case was reported from the government law college at the professional college principals’ review meet and we have taken up the case. This shows that ragging has come down considerably,” she said. To free campuses of the evil, the district administration is forming some guidelines through KELSA, to be implemented in all colleges. Even arts and science colleges will come under its ambit, she said. “We will call a principals’ meet soon to understand their requirements and an elaborate plan will be developed. So far, colleges have been implementing their own measures to curb ragging, however, soon all colleges will have to implement the guidelines set by the district administration. The Cultural Academy of Peace has offered to support us,” she said. Already seminars and workshops are being conducted to create awareness. In some colleges, the first year students have been put up on the same floor and have a different break time. Phone numbers of counsellors and authorities are being publicised for emergency needs. Colleges have been asked to display the phone numbers of the special shadow squad members and the police, she said. She added that the awareness programmes by KELSA and Kochi police will over by August.Principals have been asked to submit an action-taken report. The district-level anti-ragging squads will monitor the college-level squads for effective implementation of the guidelines. Those found guilty will be punished which may include imprisonment up to three years and a fine of `10,000, she said. Besides, the guilty will be barred from securing admission in colleges for three years. Principles and heads of departments involved in ragging will also be punished, she said. The police would also monitor ragging in private hostels.