Ensure varsity campuses are safe for all: UGC chairman to VCs

University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman Prof Ved Prakash has written to Vice Chancellors of all Universities asking them to personally ensure that campus environment is safe for all who study there especially girl students. In a letter written earlier this month, Prakash said that of late some "unfortunate incidents", which are not in conformity with the spirit of measures suggested have come to the notice of UGC, inspite of guidelines issued by it. "You will agree that instances like these de-accelerate the very purpose of the type of mission and discourage women students in a majority of cases to go for further studies which is against the spirit of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' drive launched by the Government of India," Prakash wrote in his letter.

He added that UGC is committed to zero tolerance with regard to harassment of any kind in institutions of higher education. A number of communications have also been sent to Universities by the UGC requesting constitution of committees and separate cells to deal with issues of Gender based violence and Gender Sensitisation programmes, he said in the letter. 

"I would, therefore, request you to personally ensure that the campus of your university is free of any incident which is in violation of the guidelines issues and campus environment is conducive and safe for all students, especially girl students," Prakash said in his letter to VCs.