Virat Kohli may wield his bat against ragging

Cricketer Virat Kohli is likely to bat against ragging in a massive campaign planned by the human resource development (HRD) ministry in universities across the country.

Cricketer Virat Kohli is likely to bat against ragging in a massive campaign planned by the human resource development (HRD) ministry in universities across the country.

Sources said Virat Kohli will endorse the message through television commercials asking students to help curb ragging.(HT File Photo)

Sources said Kohli will endorse the message through television commercials asking students to help curb ragging. Last year, a total of 390 complaints of ragging were registered on the anti-ragging helpline while this year it was 174.

It will also launch a poster drive against the menace in educational institutions ahead of the new academic year. “Show your swagger, don’t be a ragger” and “You wanna kill your career? Then go ahead, pull the trigger” – read the anti-ragging posters designed by the ministry.

Sources said that approximately 1.5 lakh such posters are being printed, which will be distributed among all educational institutions. They will also have the anti-ragging helpline number and details of penalty on those found guilty.

The ministry has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to prepare posters, jingles, commercials and short films which will be shown in universities. A mobile app will also be launched by the ministry to allow students to file complaints and call the toll free anti-ragging helpline number – 1800-180-5522.

“The need to create awareness and make an anti-ragging environment within educational institutions will always remain. Students should be encouraged to report cases of ragging. Our campaign will create awareness among students, parents and administrators,” said Inder Mohan Kapahy, member of UGC.

According to a senior official, they are also preparing a universal logo for anti-ragging which will be used in all posters, films and other literature.

States like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have reported high number of ragging cases and the UGC has written letters asking them to address the issue.

UGC has made it mandatory for all institutions to incorporate the directions of the government about ragging and its consequences in their prospectus.