As colleges open for a new academic year later this month, first time college students are anxiously waiting to step out of their protective surroundings and enter another kind of world, where there is with the excitement also apprehension, the fear of being bullied or ragged by seniors. While ragging is not very rampant in Mumbai colleges, freshers are scared how the first few weeks in college will pan out. “I am looking forward to college but I was told you might sometimes be asked to do a little song and dance by the seniors.
So, I’m a little nervous,” said Gauri Pansare, who has applied for admission in the Bachelor of Mass Media in several South Mumbai colleges. Experts believe tension related to ragging is because of a lack of clarity on its definition. “In the current setting, there is a very little opportunity for seniors to interact with their juniors and hence might approach freshers to initiate friendship,” said, Dr Sujata Sriram, chairperson, Centre for human ecology at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. “Kids need to lighten up a bit. If they are anxious then at least for the first few days they must not move around alone.
There is always safety in numbers.”
Problems arise when things move beyond this and become emotionally and physically threatening. “Ragging of any sort can stress a student if he or she is not comfortable with it. If there are such incidents in college, students must bring that to the college’s notice,” said Priyansh Mehra, a clinical counsellor.
The anti-ragging committee of the University of Mumbai is making efforts to ensure that any kind of ragging, be it friendly or torturous, does not take place. “From this year, colleges will be told to follow anti-ragging rules and put up posters warning students that they must not indulge in such activities,” said a member of the committee.
Ragging is a criminal offense, the Supreme Court has ruled. Accordingly, the
University Grants Commission has funded a toll-free helpline number for students in
distress. Students need not fear that their identities will be disclosed.
Are you sure you want to rag?
Suspension from class and loss of academic privileges.
Scholarship/fellowship or other privileges will be withheld or withdrawn.
Debarred from appearing in exams.
Withhold results.
Debarred from representing institution in regional, national and international
meets, tournaments or youth festivals
In distress and looking for help, call 1800-180-5522
Or email: helpline@antiragging.net
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