Ragging out, freshers enjoy campus entry

The message against ragging was delivered loud and clear to freshers when Delhi University colleges reopened on Monday. Shaswati Das and Faizan Haider report.

The message against ragging was delivered loud and clear to freshers when Delhi University colleges reopened on Monday.

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The new students had been allowed the freedom to seek guidance from college authorities in case they were offended by any incident or comment made by their seniors.

"We have written to all principals, deans and provosts to form anti-ragging committees in every college. We now have the names, email addresses and numbers of teachers and students in every college who volunteered for the committees. This information will be put up on the college's notice boards for the benefit of the students," said Usha Rao, proctor, DU.

Early in the admission season, applicants to Ramjas College were made to sign an affidavit and promise not to get involved in ragging. The document - the college authorities said - would prove incriminating if any student was found have a hand in ragging. However, some students lodged in college hostels felt that ragging incidents remained unreported because of vindictive seniors.

"If students wished to file complaints with college authorities, their seniors would retaliate by threatening them with dire consequences. So, often, none have the courage to take the matter forward," said a resident at the Hindu College Hostel, who did not wish to be named.

Delhi police has, meanwhile, pulled out all the stops to keep ragging at bay from colleges.

“We have discussed this matter with college principals. Every college now has an anti-ragging cell. Affected students can contact us directly. Since most ragging complaints come from outside the campus, plainclothes officers will be stationed at various spots,” said Sindhu Pillai, deputy commissioner (north).